P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News Staff

JEDDAH, 25 November 2003 — Security forces have arrested at least 10 suspected militants in various parts of the Kingdom.

The arrested included “a very dangerous” person, Al-Hayat Arabic daily reported yesterday quoting informed security sources. Some of them were allegedly linked to the Al-Qaeda terrorist network, it said.

However, the detainees did not include those who ordered the Nov. 8 bombing of the Al-Muhaya Compound in Riyadh, the London-based daily said.

Interior Minister Prince Naif, meanwhile, reiterated Saudi Arabia’s determination to stamp out terrorism. “The Kingdom has the power to stop those who try to tamper with its security,” he said while addressing a function in Makkah on Sunday.

The minister urged Saudis to stand united in the face of the threat posed by terrorists.

“We should not open the way for our enemies who wanted to create chaos and confusion in our country,” he said.

Police carried out an overnight raid on Friday on a house in Makkah suspected of being an extremist hideout, “but they did not find anyone,” the paper said.

Security near the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah and other religious sites has been beefed up on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.

Authorities have deployed at least 5,000 security officers in Makkah to protect pilgrims during Ramadan.

The decision to deploy the extra forces was taken after security forces crushed a suspected Al-Qaeda cell the previous week.

More reinforcements would also be deployed in Madinah, the source added.

Surveillance cameras have been set up at religious sites to detect “suspect movements,” Al-Hayat said, quoting the sources.

In his address to a gathering organized by the Makkah Cultural and Literary Club, Prince Naif said the government was working sincerely to push forward the reform process and correct mistakes.

“The government welcomes constructive opinions to help it realize the hopes and aspirations of citizens,” he said.

The minister called upon Saudis and residents to cooperate with police to track down terror suspects. He applauded efforts by scholars to correct what went wrong.

“We should feel that we are in the same boat and under one roof,” Prince Naif told citizens and urged them to cooperate with the government’s efforts to root out terror.

Shoura Council Chairman Dr. Saleh Bin-Humaid welcomed the repentance shown by two prominent scholars for supporting Al-Qaeda-style militancy. “Their repentance will make a good impact,” he added.

Sheikh Saleh Al-Hosain, head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, warned against religious extremism, adding that Islam prohibits extremism.