Riyadh names suspects

08 December 2003
The government on 6 December named 26 men - 23 Saudi Arabians, two Moroccans and a Yemeni - that it wants in connection with terrorist activities in the kingdom. Photos of the men were aired on national television and printed on the front pages of newspapers. The government also set up a telephone hotline for information from the public, and has offered rewards of SR 1 million ($266,667) for information leading to the arrest of each man, SR 5 million ($1.3 million) for the arrest of the group, and SR 7 million ($1.9 million) for information that prevents a terrorist attack. The kingdom has been carrying out a very public campaign against domestic militants, which has seen the Interior Ministry periodically announce arrests and weapons seizures.

The publication of the mens' names and pictures came hours after US diplomatic personnel were ordered to stay within their compounds in the kingdom. 'The embassy continues to be concerned about the current security situation in Saudi Arabia,' said a statement from the mission. 'Effective immediately, travel of embassy personnel and dependents of the Riyadh diplomatic quarter is restricted to essential business only.' The US' warning to personnel came soon after Australia issued a similar statement through its embassy in Riyadh.

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