DATE=5/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232645
TITLE=SAUDI/BOMBING (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A TOP SAUDI ARABIAN OFFICIAL SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT HAS RULED
OUT FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT IN A 1996 TERRORIST ATTACK IN THE KINGDOM
THAT LEFT 19 UNITED STATES SERVICEMEN DEAD. MIDDLE EAST
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN CAIRO HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: THE COMMENT CAME FROM SAUDI INTERIOR MINISTER PRINCE
NAYEF BIN ABDELAZIZ.
IN AN INTERVIEW FRIDAY WITH THE KUWAITI NEWSPAPER, "AL-RAI
AL-AAM," THE PRINCE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THERE WAS NO FOREIGN
INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUNE 1996 TRUCK BOMBING OF THE KHOBAR TOWERS
HOUSING COMPLEX NEAR THE EASTERN CITY OF DHARAN.
//OPT// IN ADDITION TO THE 19 U-S SERVICEMEN KILLED IN THE
ATTACK, DOZENS MORE WERE WOUNDED. AND THE INCIDENT PROMPTED THE
TRANSFER OF AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM THE DHARAN AREA TO A
REMOTE DESERT AIR BASE NEAR THE SAUDI CAPITAL, RIYADH. //END
OPT//
IN FRIDAY'S INTERVIEW, THE INTERIOR MINISTER WAS QUOTED AS SAYING
THE BOMBING WAS THE WORK OF "SAUDI HANDS." BUT HE GAVE NO
FURTHER DETAILS, AND IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHETHER HIS
REMARKS SIGNALED THE COMPLETION OF THE SAUDI INVESTIGATION INTO
THE ATTACK.
A U-S PROBE -- BY THE F-B-I -- CONTINUES. BUT AMERICAN OFFICIALS
ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE MADE LITTLE HEADWAY, AND THEY HAVE
COMPLAINED ABOUT A LACK OF COOPERATION FROM THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT.
SAUDI AUTHORITIES HAVE DETAINED A NUMBER OF SUSPECTS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE ATTACK. BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ALLOW U-S
INVESTIGATORS TO INTERVIEW THE DETAINEES, DESPITE REPEATED TRIPS
TO THE KINGDOM BY F-B-I DIRECTOR LOUIS FREEH.
//OPT// VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE REPORTEDLY DISCUSSED THE
INVESTIGATION WITH CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH DURING A VISIT TO SAUDI
ARABIA EARLIER THIS MONTH. BUT AMERICAN OFFICIALS GAVE NO
INDICATION OF ANY PROGRESS FOLLOWING THOSE TALKS. //END OPT//
IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE BOMBING, SAUDI OFFICIALS WERE
QUOTED AS SAYING THERE WERE INDICATIONS OF IRANIAN INVOLVEMENT.
AND THE UNITED STATES PUBLICLY THREATENED RETALIATION, IF
TEHRAN'S ROLE WERE PROVEN.
SUSPICIONS OF IRANIAN SUPPORT FOR THE ATTACK WERE BOLSTERED BY
THE ARREST IN CANADA LAST YEAR OF A SAUDI MAN -- HANI AL-SAYEGH
-- ACCUSED OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE ATTACK.
CANADIAN COURT DOCUMENTS LINK THE SUSPECT TO THE IRANIAN-BACKED
"HEZBOLLAH" ORGANIZATION.
MR. SAYEGH DENIED INVOLVEMENT.
HE WAS LATER EXTRADITED TO THE UNITED STATES, AMID REPORTS HE HAD
AGREED TO TELL ALL HE KNEW ABOUT THE ATTACK IN EXCHANGE FOR
ASYLUM.
BUT IN SEPTEMBER, THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ABRUPTLY DROPPED
CHARGES AGAINST MR. SAYEGH AND ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD BE
DEPORTED BECAUSE SAUDI AUTHORITIES HAD FAILED TO TURN OVER
EVIDENCE THAT COULD BE USED IN AN AMERICAN COURT.
THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT HAS ASKED WASHINGTON TO HAND OVER MR.
SAYEGH. U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NOT YET DECIDED WHERE HE
WILL BE SENT.
THE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE CONTINUED AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF
GRADUALLY IMPROVING TIES BETWEEN THE SAUDI AND IRANIAN
GOVERNMENTS. THE LONG-RUNNING HOSTILITY SPARKED BY THE 1979
ISLAMIC REVOLUTION IN TEHRAN HAS EASED OVER THE PAST YEAR SINCE
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF POLITICAL MODERATE, MOHAMMED
KHATTAMI. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/PCF
22-May-98 11:38 AM EDT (1538 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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