SAUDI ARABIA: Crown Prince Abdullah said yesterday Saudi Arabia would triumph over "evil powers" in its war against terror after warnings by the US and Britain of new terror threats to the kingdom.
The de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, birthplace of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, warned people not to back "terrorists".
"In the decisive battle between powers of good and powers of evil, there is no room for neutrality or hesitancy . . . He who protects or sympathises with a terrorist is himself a terrorist and will receive his just punishment," he said in remarks carried by the official Saudi Press Agency yesterday.
His comments followed warnings by the US and Britain on Wednesday of new terror threats in Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter.
A Saudi security official said that authorities were still chasing suspected militants linked to al-Qaeda.
Saudi Arabia has cracked down on Islamists suspected of links to al-Qaeda after triple suicide bombings at compounds in Riyadh in May killed 35 people, including nine Americans.
There have been several arrests and bloody clashes in which at least 16 suspects and 11 Saudi policemen have died.