nemo Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 Source RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia told al Qaeda militants on Sunday it would not allow them to destabilize the kingdom and warned they would share the fate of their slain leader unless they repented.Undeterred by the death of Abdulaziz al-Muqrin, the leader of al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, the group vowed renewed "holy war" in the country. Muqrin was shot dead by Saudi forces on Friday with three other prominent militants hours after they beheaded American hostage Paul Johnson, whose body has still not been found. Saudi analysts who have contacts with militants said on Sunday they expected al Qaeda to name Saleh al-Awfi, a former Interior Ministry employee, as Muqrin's successor. "We will not allow a corrupt group led by deviant thought to violate the security and stability of this land," King Fahd, Saudi's ailing ruler, told the opening of the Saudi consultative Shura Council on Sunday in comments on official agency SPA. "The real Muslim has nothing to do with these actions and has no sympathy for those who carry them out," he added. Late on Saturday, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Abdullah warned the militants: "We tell this deviant group and others that if they do not return to the right path, they will meet the same fate (as Muqrin) or worse." State television showed the corpses of the militants, blaming them for a wave of violence against foreigners in the Gulf state, a key U.S. ally and the world's biggest oil exporter. Al Qaeda confirmed the killings of Muqrin and three others in an Internet statement on Saturday but voiced defiance. "The Mujahideen are continuing the jihad (holy struggle) that they have pledged to God and the killing of their brothers will not weaken their resolve but only increase their determination and commitment," it said. MUQRIN SUCCESSOR? Continued ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Island Dog Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 I think Saudi Arabia has finally realized they have to make a choice. Let's see what they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[david] Posted June 20, 2004 Share Posted June 20, 2004 who said that, the king or the mullahs? if the king said it, nobody'll listen, the country's on the verge of collapse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b3ta Posted June 21, 2004 Share Posted June 21, 2004 Courageous move Saudi Arabia. Let's watch and see what comes of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aem4162 Posted June 21, 2004 Share Posted June 21, 2004 I think Saudi Arabia has finally realized they have to make a choice. Let's see what they do. (Y) it's about time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuka_t Posted June 21, 2004 Share Posted June 21, 2004 ,Jun 21 2004, 00:25] Courageous move Saudi Arabia. Let's watch and see what comes of it. probably carpet bombing and a US led invasion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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