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Saudi Arabia arrests 44 al-Qaida suspects, arms seized

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-20 20:02

Kalashnikov rifles seized by Saudi security officers are seen in Riyadh in this handout picture released August 19, 2009. [Agencies]

Saudi Arabia arrests 44 suspected militants

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Saudi authorities arrested 44 suspected militants with al-Qaida links in a yearlong sweep that also uncovered dozens of machine guns and electronic circuits for bombs, the government said Wednesday.

Thirty members of the group hold advanced university degrees, mostly in the field of science, and some have received training in the kingdom and abroad on preparing explosives, forging travel documents and using light and heavy weapons, said the Interior Ministry.

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The ministry's spokesman, Mansour al-Turki, told The Associated Press that the suspected militants sought to set up cells "that would carry out their goals without their direct involvement."

"They're like an engine that manipulates others while working in the shadows," he said.

Some of those arrested had "tight links" with al-Qaida's foreign-based leadership, said an Interior Ministry statement, using the government's standard euphemism describing the terrorist organization as "the deviant group."

The suspected militants, all but one of whom are from Saudi Arabia, sought to recruit youths and finance their activities through charitable donations, said the statement, which was carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. The group was arrested in a campaign that began more than a year ago and ended August 2.

During that time, authorities seized more than 60 machine-guns and large amounts of ammunition, some buried in the backyard of one of the arrested suspects, said the statement. They also found 96 electronics circuits that work as switches to ignite explosives remotely, it said.

Saudi Arabia has pursued an aggressive campaign against militants since May 2003, when they first began attacks in the kingdom. The country is the birthplace of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and home to 15 of the 19 September 11 hijackers.

Last month, Saudi officials announced that a Saudi criminal court has convicted and sentenced 330 al-Qaida militants to jail terms, fines and travel bans in the country's first known trials for suspected members of the terror group.

The 330 are believed to be among the 991 suspected militants that Interior Minister Prince Nayef has said have been charged with participating in terrorist attacks over the past five years.

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