Homeland Security

DATE=11-14-03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= U-S / SAUDI MISSIONS (S-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-309836

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The State Department says U-S diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia will reopen Saturday after closing for security reasons November 7th, the day before a deadly car bombing in Riyadh that killed 17 people. The Saudi government meanwhile is vowing an all-out drive against terrorism. V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

TEXT: Officials say the U-S embassy in Riyahd and consulates in Jeddah and Dahran will reopen for normal operations Saturday, but a public advisory urges U-S citizens in Saudi Arabia to maintain a low profile and avoid places where westerners congregate.

The missions closed last Friday because of what was termed credible information that terrorists were preparing to strike, though U-S officials said the information was not specific enough to prevent the car bomb attack the next day on a housing complex for mainly Arab foreigners in Riyahd.

At a Washington news conference, Saudi spokesman Adel al-Jubeir said his government is closely cooperating with the United States and is determined to crush terrorist factions:

///al-Jubeir actuality///

If the intention of the terrorists, much less, is to destroy the Saudi state, they will not succeed. We will fight them with everything we have until we crush them.

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Mr. al-Jubeir said the anti-terrorism struggle could be a long one, but that there can be no doubt about the outcome. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/RH/FC