UNITED NATIONS (AFP) – Saudi Arabia, stressing that terrorism threatens the entire world, appealed for world support for creation of an international counter-terrorism center.
Speaking on the second day of the largest gathering of world leaders here, Saudi Deputy Prime Minister Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz said his country was introducing a draft resolution in the UN General Assembly for establishment of a task force to consider creation of the center.
"We greatly hope that this draft resolution will be endorsed and that we can take yet another step toward improving international cooperation in fighting terrorism," he added.
"Terrorism threatens the entire world. It is imperative that we make a collective effort to combat it," said the crown prince, whose country has been hit by a spate of attacks by suspected Al-Qaeda militants.
He recalled that oil-rich Saudi Arabia last February organized an international counter-terrorism conference to promote international cooperation in this field.
The conference held in Riyadh with the participation of delegates from some 50 countries and international organizations had endorsed a call by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (who was then crown prince) for establishment of the counter-terror center.
Earlier this month, Saudi security forces battled suspected Al-Qaeda militants in the eastern city of Dammam, the latest in a series of confrontations with Al-Qaeda suspects who launched a spate of shootings and bombings in Saudi Arabia in May 2003.