The recent attacks in Saudi Arabia cannot be blamed on a lack of democracy, the Kingdom's Interior Minister Prince Nayef said in remarks published Wednesday.
"Justifying the deeds of some terrorist groups by the lack ofdemocracy ... is not correct," Prince Nayef told the London-based Al Hayat newspaper.
"Those who commit these terrorist activities do not even believe in democracy in the first place," he told this pan-Arab daily.
In his comments, Prince Nayef acknowledged the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, had cast a shadow over Saudi relations with the United States. "But what is important," Nayef said, "is to learn from this lesson."
Nayef reiterated the government was doing everything possible against terrorism. "What I can say is that the kingdom's efforts to combat terrorism and terrorists have been successful and fruitful," he said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
