P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News Staff

JEDDAH, 13 December 2003 — Swiss security forces have uncovered a number of Al-Qaeda cells planning terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia, Al-Watan Arabic daily reported yesterday quoting Swiss judicial sources.

The Swiss authorities were alerted to the terrorist cells while tapping telephone conversations of Khaled Sheikh Muhammad, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks. Khaled Sheikh was arrested in Pakistan last March and has been extradited to the US.

“Investigations identified telephone numbers of incoming and outgoing calls from Khaled Sheikh’s phone,” the paper said, adding the Al-Qaeda operative used dozens of cell phones until September 2002.

Swiss intelligence knows about Al-Qaeda cells, some of them operating in Asia, who are preparing to carry out explosions in the Kingdom, the paper said.

Meanwhile, Saudi agents arrived in Sanaa on Thursday to follow up investigation of Muhammad Hamdi Al-Ahdal or Abu Asem, a top Al-Qaeda operative who was arrested by Yemeni police two weeks ago.

“The visit comes in the framework of the security agreement between the two countries,” Yemeni sources said.

The sources, however, denied reports that Saudi Arabia had requested Ahdal’s extradition because of his alleged role in the terrorist attacks in the Kingdom.

Two massive terrorist attacks shook Riyadh on May 12 and Nov. 8. In all 53 people were killed and 200 others injured. Saudi Arabia has stepped up a campaign since May 12 to clamp down on terrorists and arrested over 600 suspects over the past months.

Saudi authorities have tightened security measures in their bid to capture terror suspects and prevent them from using forged documents.

The Interior Ministry earlier instructed car rentals, hotels, furnished residential apartments and rest houses to inform it about people renting their vehicles and living in their facilities.

Ibrahim Muhammad Al-Rayyes, one of the wanted militants who was killed in a shootout with security forces in Riyadh last Monday, was carrying false papers.

Saudi Arabia issued on Saturday a list of 26 suspects wanted in connection with terrorist attacks in the country.