Yemen and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as Iran, have sent home dozens of Saudi Arabians, suspected of fighting with the Taliban or belonging to Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network, a daily reported Monday.
Al-Hayat, quoting informed sources, said dozens more Saudis suspected of similar activities continued to return home under the own steam. All the suspects are interrogated by the Saudi authorities, who have freed all those against whom there is no proof of ties to Osama bin Laden's network, the Arabic newspaper said.
Meanwhile, Saudi foreign policy advisor Adel al-Jubeir said Sunday that Iran was cooperating with his country and others in the Middle East in rounding up and handing over al-Qaeda suspects for questioning.
Referring to media reports that Tehran had expelled 16 al-Qaeda suspects to Saudi Arabia, al-Jubeir said; "The Iranians have been cooperating with us. They have handed them over to us. They have handed a number of others to other Arab countries."
Authorities in the Saudi kingdom were interrogating the group of suspects, which included women and children, al-Jubeir told NBC television. Asked whether Riyadh would hand the suspects over to Washington, he said, "We are interrogating them in Saudi Arabia. We are sharing all of that with the United States. Those that deserve punishment will be punished." "I can assure you that punishment will be severe in Saudi Arabia," he added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
