Tariq Al-Homayed, Asharq Al-Awsat

JEDDAH, 3 September 2003 — Saudi Ambassador to London Prince Turki Al-Faisal, accused in a new book “Why America Slept” of establishing relations with Osama Bin Laden, strongly rejected the allegation last night, and US officials also dismissed the book’s claims.

“This information is totally false and groundless,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News.

“I have had no contacts with Bin Laden since 1990, and have never had contacts with Al-Qaeda, which is a satanic terrorist organization,” he added.

Prince Turki said he had spent years trying to bring Bin Laden to justice.

“Saudi Arabia revoked Osama’s citizenship in 1994,” the ambassador said, condemning attempts to link him and the Kingdom with Al-Qaeda.

Prince Turki made the remarks after reading a review of “Why America Slept” in the latest issue of Time magazine.

Gerald L. Posner, the author, says that Abu Obaida, an Al-Qaeda leader in US custody since Aug. 28, 2002, revealed information to US intelligence agents about alleged links between Saudi nationals and Bin Laden.

United States officials have also dismissed claims in the book, with one saying that it was an attempt to “sensationalize” the issue. Another US intelligence official said yesterday that the allegations in the book are “absurd”.

“These claims have no meaning at all,” the official said.