Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat- New information has emerged regarding the terrorist plot to storm Ruwais Prison in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia, through the confessions of members of the al Khalidiyah cell.

On December 7, 2006, a number of armed men attempted to break in to the prison; however, prison guards were able to crush the operation.

On Tuesday, Saudi television aired the confessions of the men who took part in the operation to enter Ruwais Prison. The individuals confirmed that the operation was one of the goals of the al Khalidiyah cell. Members of the cell had been arrested 15 June, 2003.

According to the confessions of the terrorists, the process of recruiting members to the al Khalidiyah cell was carried out based on the pretext of Jihad in Iraq. However, the new recruits, the total of which exceeded 30, revealed that the mission was to mobilize individuals to execute terrorist operations in the country.

Sheikh Abdul Mohsen al Obeikan [a legal advisor to the Ministry of Justice and a member of the Saudi Shura Council] argues that the discourse adopted by terrorist groups aims to demolish religious legitimacy in Saudi Arabia, to spread disorder and to seize power on the pretext of implementing Shariaa law.

Dr Fouad Majid, the chief justice of Qatif, affirmed that the objective of this ideology is to harm the interests of the country and to destroy its economy.