In the News

Saudi wins backing for terror center, but role unclear
"Security officials from some 50 countries endorsed a Saudi proposal for an international counter-terrorism center on Tuesday but its exact role, location and funding remained unclear.  A draft declaration from a conference in Riyadh called for the establishment of 'an International Counter-Terrorism Centre staffed by experts ... in order to share real-time information to adequately prevent attacks'.."  [more]

Saudi conference approves proposal for international anti-terror center
"A counter-terrorism conference hosted by Saudi Arabia, which is battling Al-Qaeda violence, wrapped up Tuesday after endorsing a Saudi proposal to set up an international center to combat terror.."  [more]

Conference to Chart Global Strategy to Fight Terror
"Leading counterterrorism experts, including the Homeland Security adviser to US President George W. Bush, will attend the first international anti-terrorism conference in Riyadh to work out a global strategy to combat terrorism. The unusual gathering of security and intelligence officials from more than 50 countries from Feb. 5 to 8 sends a message of support to Saudi Arabia, which has been battling a wave of violence blamed on Al-Qaeda sympathizers since May 2003.." [more]

Anti-Terror Center Proposed
"Crown Prince Abdullah yesterday vowed to press ahead with Saudi Arabia's war on terror and called for the establishment of an international center to combat and pre-empt terrorism. "I call on all countries to set up an international center for combating terrorism. Those working in it would be experts in this field," the crown prince said while inaugurating the international counter terrorism conference.." [more]

Curriculum Revised to Suit Social Needs, Says Saud
"Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said here yesterday that the Saudi school curriculum has been reviewed and revised according to the needs of Saudi society and its development. Answering a question at a press conference on the link between terrorism in Saudi Arabia and what is taught in Saudi schools, Prince Saud said: "The Kingdom had long ago started working on reviewing and revising as well as developing its curriculum to meet the demands of Saudi society.." [more]

Cabinet Calls for Greater Global Cooperation in Anti-Terror Fight 
"Saudi Arabia yesterday called for greater international cooperation in the fight against terrorism. "The whole world must stand together against the masterminds of terrorism and deviant groups to defeat their goals and vested interests," the Council of Ministers said in a statement. The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, backed the call made by Crown Prince Abdullah for the establishment of an international anti-terror center to exchange information and pre-empt terrorism.." [more]

Frozen Terror Accounts to Fund Victims
" Delegates attending the Counterterrorism International Conference in Riyadh have agreed to set up a fund whose money will come from frozen bank accounts of terrorists and will go to the victims of terror.. ..The fund would be financed from money confiscated from terrorists, their groups or supporters. At the news conference, which was chaired by Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the head of the Belgian delegation confirmed there was indeed such a fund, and that this was agreed upon by all the delegates.." [more]

US Says Saudi Victory Crucial to Defeating Global Terror
" The world cannot succeed in defeating global terrorism without Saudi Arabia's victory over terrorism and extremism on its own soil, the leader of the US delegation to the International Counterterrorism Conference, Frances Fragos Townsend said. Townsend, the US homeland security adviser, added that Washington stands with the Saudis in the fight and that the conference was a testament to the Kingdom's commitment to eliminate terrorism.." [more]

Saudis Confront Extremist Ideologies
"As it faces an armed revolt from within, Saudi Arabia is gradually confronting a painful issue that was long taboo: whether the religious traditions of the kingdom have promoted Islamic terrorism. Radical clerics, accustomed to preaching violence against unbelievers, are being watched more closely. The government says about 2,000 have been removed from their mosques in the past three years.." [more]

Respect for Human Rights, Reforms Key to Combating Terrorism
"A United Nations counterterrorism official said here yesterday that the respect of human freedoms and human rights in the world were a decisive tool in the fight against terrorism and that states and religious leaders need to make their condemnation of it clear. Speaking on behalf of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Javier Ruperez of the UN Counterterrorism Executive Directorate, said at the counterterrorism conference that terrorists were using their devious methods to distort the image of Islam worldwide.." [more]

Saudis 'Reform Militants' On Web
"The Saudi government has told an anti-terrorism conference in Riyadh that it has reformed Islamist militant sympathizers through the Internet. It says an initiative to "create awareness of the dangers of terrorism" has persuaded 250 militant sympathizers to renounce their views. The government has also opened a hotline for people concerned that their relatives are influenced by extremism.." [more]

U.S. Asks Saudi Arabia to Indict Or Return Terrorism Suspect 
"The State Department has asked Saudi Arabia to either indict a U.S. citizen it is holding on suspicion of terrorist activities or allow the Justice Department to return him to the United States. The move represents a victory for the parents and supporters of Ahmed Abu Ali, 23, of Falls Church, who has been held without charges in Saudi Arabia since June 2003.." [more]

Saudi set for municipal election
"Saudi Arabia is preparing for the first round of landmark municipal elections which will take place in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Thursday.."  [more]

Education Workshop Targets Key Reforms
"A list of recommendations addressing the core issues identified in Crown Prince Abdullah's opinion document on higher education was presented during the final session of a two-day workshop at King Abdul Aziz University on Tuesday. The recommendations look at ways of improving the education system and its content.." [more]

Election Ban on District Chiefs to Stay
"A panel of experts has rejected an appeal by 11 district chiefs (umdas) in the Riyadh region urging authorities to revoke a decision taken by the General Election Commission (GEC) barring them and their deputies from contesting the upcoming municipal council elections. The panel said the GEC decision based on existing regulations was taken in the public interest.." [more] 

Candidate Declares War on Corruption
"In one of the boldest campaign platforms chosen by a candidate contesting the forthcoming municipal elections, Dhafer Al-Yami has pledged to combat corruption in Riyadh Municipality. "For the sake of the country.. No to corruption" is his campaign slogan. Al-Yami, who is an attorney and legal consultant, promises citizens visiting his campaign tent set up in the Al-Rawdah district constituency, that their hopes and concerns would be conveyed to the highest decision makers.." [more] 

Historic Saudi Arabia Polls Step Toward Reform
"Saudi men in Riyadh and its surroundings will vote Thursday in the first round of landmark local elections, one week after US President George W. Bush urged the kingdom to accelerate democratization. This first act of public participation in decision-making in the absolute monarchy is perceived partly as an outcome of international -- chiefly American -- pressure on Saudi Arabia to open up.." [more]

Saudi, Gulf Women Disagree Over Segregation Issue
"As is normal with conferences and other events in Saudi Arabia, the sexes were segregated at a workshop which concluded on Tuesday at King Abdul Aziz University (KAAU). The reason for the workshop was to find ways to implement Crown Prince Abdullah's document on higher education. The sexual segregation annoyed a number of women participants from neighboring Gulf countries. The Gulf women refused to join their colleagues in the women's section and remained with the men.." [more]

Over 2,000 Foreign Delegates to Take Part in JEF
"The presidents of Nigeria, Afghanistan and Senegal and the prime ministers of Pakistan and Malaysia will address the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) at the Jeddah Hilton from Feb. 19-21. More than 2,000 delegates will be among the overseas participants, aside from a large number from Jeddah and elsewhere in the Kingdom.." [more]

Jameel Wins Libel Case Against WSJ Europe
"Mohammed Jameel, president of the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, and Abdul Latif Jameel Company Limited yesterday won a libel suit in the British Court of Appeal against the Wall Street Journal Europe. The court upheld awards of libel damages of 30,000 pounds to Jameel and 10,000 pounds to the company, rejecting an appeal made by WSJ Europe.." [more]

Railway Project Meeting Draws Huge Response
"The investors' conference organized by Saudi Railway Organization (SRO) here was a big success as it drew representatives of more than 150 Saudi and foreign companies interested in taking part in the SR10 billion railway expansion project. Transport Minister Dr. Jabara Al-Seraisry, who presided over the event, expressed his satisfaction over the big turnout of international companies and hoped consortia of companies would be formed soon to carry out the project.." [more] 

Oil prices drop amid Saudi plans to increase output capacity
"World oil prices fell as warmer weather in key markets continued to ease demand for heating fuel, while traders digested news that Saudi Arabia expects to increase its oil production capacity by nearly 15 percent within the next four years.."  [more] 

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