Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal will visit Washington on Wednesday for talks with US officials on efforts to combat terrorism, a Saudi official said on Tuesday.
“Prince Saud’s talks with the Bush administration would concern international efforts in the battle against terrorism in all its forms and types,” head of the Saudi foreign minister's office, Hamad Al Faris, said in a statement, cited by the Kuwaiti news agency (KUNA).
He added that the minister would convey to President Bush, his administration and the American people the sincere condolences of King Fahd and the Saudi government on the loss of victims of last Tuesday's attacks.
Faris added that that the prince, who is accompanied by an interior ministry delegation, would also discuss with US authorities the arrests and questioning of Saudi citizens suspected of being involved with the attacks.
Saudi ambassador to Washington, Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, said on Monday that most of Saudi suspects in the deadly terrorist attacks on vital US buildings have been released.
"Most of the Saudi citizens who were interrogated by the US authorities have been freed," Prince Bander told the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
"Those who are still under interrogation are being provided with assistance and lawyers by the embassy," he said.
Prince Saud had said that an unspecified number of Saudi nationals had been brought in for questioning over the September 11 attacks which left thousands dead.
Prince Bandar also said the embassy was closely watching the affairs of Saudi students and citizens in the US following reports of harassment, and has moved some of them into safe hotels.
The embassy was also helping Saudis return home, or move them to US states deemed safer, he said without giving details.
The measures were taken after Prince Faisal said a number of Saudis living in the United States had been a target of some harassment.
There are about 7,000 Saudi students in US universities in addition to a large number of tourists, businessmen and patients receiving medical treatment – Albawaba.com
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