Staff Writer  --  Arab News

JEDDAH, 4 May 2004 — Saudi Arabia yesterday slammed the “inhuman and degrading” treatment of Iraqi prisoners at the hands of the coalition forces.

The condemnation came after the weekly Cabinet meeting chaired by Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.

The Council of Ministers’ statement was referring to pictures published in the last few days of US and British soldiers humiliating and abusing Iraqi prisoners.

It said such “inhuman practices” were the result of the continuing occupation of Iraq, and called for a speedy handover of sovereignty to the Iraqi people and transferring “genuine and not just cosmetic power” to them.

Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy told the Saudi Press Agency after the meeting the Kingdom was looking forward to seeing the United Nations assumes a pivotal role in Iraq by actively contributing to the process of the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis.

The Cabinet also reaffirmed the determination of the Saudi government and people against the attacks the Kingdom experienced at the hands of terrorists “who dedicate themselves to the service of Satan and the enemies of Islam after showing total disrespect for all human values and principles.”

Prince Abdullah stressed the Kingdom would strike with an iron fist all those who disrupted the security and stability of the country and will continue to fight terrorism until it had been eradicated.

The Cabinet called on the international community to put more sincere efforts in the fight against terrorism and to work to contain the menace by monitoring terrorist movements and drying up sources of terror financing.

Al-Farsy said the crown prince briefed the Cabinet on the outcome of meetings he and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd had with international leaders, which focused on regional and international developments.

They included talks with Sudanese President Omar Bashir and with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qorei.

Qorei last week discussed with Saudi leaders the situation in the occupied territories and the continuing Israeli aggression against the Palestinians.

Al-Farsy said Prince Abdullah stressed the need for a firm international stand in the face of Israeli intransigence.