Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Saudi Interior Minister Hints at New Most Wanted List | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat- Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, has hinted that the kingdom’s Interior Ministry might release a new list of most wanted terror suspects.

This statement came following the graduation ceremony of security trainees in Riyadh who had completed their courses on public security and in which the Interior Minister was the patron in attendance. More security groups are expected to graduate in Mecca and other provinces soon. With regards to the ministry’s most wanted list, the prince said that, “there may be a new list announced,” but did not specify a time.

After inaugurating the first technical security exhibition yesterday, the interior minister announced that Saudi Arabia is about to sign a memorandum of understanding with Italy. The memorandum aims to combat terrorism and money laundering, to intercept drug trafficking, in addition to including security training that ranges over various sectors. Italian senior officials have expressed admiration for the high-level of security training, he said.

When asked regarding the kingdom’s readiness to deal with the possibility of a military strike launched by the US against Iran, “We hope that it will not happen and it is a matter that we are taking into consideration,” the minister said. Pertaining to the extent of security cooperation between Saudi and Iraq over the return of the Saudi prisoners detained in Iraqi prisons, he expressed his readiness to cooperate on this issue and said, “We are awaiting the practical application of this issue.”

Regarding the Saudi Guantanamo detainees, the prince said that the country was pursuing the matter and that there is an ongoing effort with the intention of bringing back every last prisoner.

On the local level, the minister said that investigations were still being made into the death of Colonel Nasser al Uthman who was killed last week in Qassim.