Abdul Wahab Bashir • Arab News

JEDDAH, 24 June 2004 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd yesterday offered terrorists a limited amnesty, calling on them to turn themselves in or face the full might of the state.

In a televised address read on his behalf by Crown Prince Abdullah, King Fahd said those who willingly surrender within 30 days will be secure and warned all those who don’t will be subjected to a fierce crackdown.

“God is merciful and therefore we announce, for the last time, that we are opening the doors to an amnesty and a return to the righteous path for everyone who strayed off that path and committed crimes. Those who surrender voluntarily within no more than one month from the date of this speech will be treated according to God’s law but those who did not hand themselves in would face the unflinching power and unshakable determination” of the state, Prince Abdullah said in the televised speech.

The warning came five days after security forces in the capital Riyadh shot dead the suspected head of Al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia and three associates who beheaded an American hostage in the latest of a spate of attacks on Westerners in the Kingdom.

Abdul Aziz Al-Muqrin, Al-Qaeda’s suspected leader in Saudi Arabia, was killed together with three other terrorists hours after the terrorists executed their American captive, Paul M. Johnson whom they abducted days earlier.

One security officer was killed in the fight that took place in the Al-Malaz neighborhood while 12 terrorists were arrested. The killing of Al-Muqrin was hailed as a crushing blow to Al-Qaeda.

“All those affiliated to this group which wronged itself and who were not captured have a chance to return to God and engage in soul-searching. Those who turn themselves in of their own will within a month of this speech will be secure in the security of God as far as they are concerned, and will be treated according to God’s law pertaining to the rights of others,” Prince Abdullah said.

He stressed that the government was not saying this out of weakness but was offering an option to the deviants to come to their senses and surrender.

A series of terrorist attacks in the Kingdom, beginning with that in May 2003 on a residential compound in Riyadh, has killed scores of people, Saudis and foreigners alike, and resulted in the destruction of public and private property.

In one of the bloodiest attacks, terrorists masquerading as security men killed 22 civilians in May in a shooting and hostage-taking spree in Alkhobar in the Eastern Province.

“We announce for the last time that we open the doors of pardon, return to right and applying the righteous rule of Shariah to anyone who deviated from the right path and committed a crime in the name of religion. Everyone knows that we are not saying this out of weakness, but as an option to them, and so that we will be excused as government and people since we opened the doors of return and security. The sensible ones who take up (the offer) will be secure. As for those who spurn it, by God, our forbearance will not prevent us from striking with the full force we draw from our reliance on God,” the crown prince added.

Earlier, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the foreign minister, said the government was determined to rid the Kingdom of terrorists and was capable of preserving the security and safety of all citizens, residents and visitors.”

“The Kingdom will continue to chase this criminal group, eliminate it and rid society of its evil,” Prince Saud told a press conference here.

Hailing the security forces’ repeated successes in chasing the terrorists and dismantling their cells, Prince Saud said the latest criminal acts which had been marked by savagery and brutality reflect the aberrant thinking of this group.

He said the Kingdom had struck a major blow against Al-Qaeda by killing its leader in Saudi Arabia but warned the threat of militant violence remained.

“Getting rid of one cell doesn’t mean this issue is over. It is a strong blow but when the danger is over we will announce it,” he said.

Recent killings of Western expatriates in Riyadh, Yanbu and Alkhobar have prompted some foreigners to leave. But Prince Saud said he was not aware of any large exodus of expatriates, adding Saudi Arabia was determined to protect them.

“This country will do its utmost to protect the residents just like we protect our own people.” he said.

Asked if large numbers of foreigners were leaving, he said: “I haven’t heard this. It’s more likely that they are fleeing the summer heat rather than the danger of terrorism.”

The United States and Britain, who have about 65,000 citizens living in Saudi Arabia, have warned their nationals to leave or avoid traveling to the Kingdom. Both have warned of the possibility of more attacks.

Prince Saud denied there was hostility to Westerners in Saudi Arabia but said terrorists were exploiting popular anger at the US policy in the Middle East and its occupation of neighboring Iraq to justify their actions.

“I think it is anger and not hatred in this country toward the policy followed by the United States regarding the Middle East and Israel. The anger that Saudis are feeling is not any less than the anger of other people in the world,” he said.