Homeland Security

DATE= 10/14/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= SAUDI/ARRESTS (SHORT ONLY)

NUMBER=2-308606

BYLINE= JAMES MARTONE

DATELINE= CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Authorities in Saudi Arabia have arrested 150 people after unprecedented protests in Riyadh. But the country's Interior Minister is downplaying the event in the monarchy, where such protests are banned. James Martone reports from VOA's Middle East Bureau in Cairo.

TEXT: Saudi Arabia says it has arrested as many as 150 young Saudis involved in Tuesday's protest in the capital, Riyadh.

The kingdom's Interior Minister, Prince Nayef, downplayed the protest. In statements Wednesday, he said the pro-reform demonstrators had been small in number and he predicted such an incident will not happen again.

About 200 demonstrators marched through the capital Tuesday, demanding faster political reforms and the release of political prisoners. Witnesses told the Reuters news agency that police fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd.

The protest came after calls for such action by a London-based Saudi opposition group, the Movement for Islamic Reforms.

The Saudi royal family is under increasing pressure to grant more freedoms. On Monday, the government approved the country's first ever elections, which will select members of municipal councils. But no date has been set. (signed)

NEB/JM/AWP