Homeland Security

DATE= 11/26/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= SAUDI / YEMEN (SHORT ONLY)

NUMBER=2-310252

BYLINE=GREG LAMOTTE

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Saudi officials said Tuesday they foiled a planned terrorist attack and killed two suspected militants. And, in Yemen security forces arrested a top al-Qaida fugitive. VOA's Greg LaMotte has the details from our Middle East bureau in Cairo.

TEXT: Saudi officials say militants were planning to car bomb an unspecified target in the capital, Riyadh.

The Saudi Interior Ministry says security forces seized a vehicle that was ready to be detonated and killed two suspected militants.

The Ministry says the planned attack was set to coincide with the beginning of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Earlier this month, a car bomb explosion killed 17 people in the Saudi capital following an attack at a residential compound.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Yemen authorities say they have arrested a top local leader of Osama bin Laden's terrorist network al-Qaida.

Yemeni security forces said Mohammad Hamdi al-Ahdal surrendered to police Tuesday after they surrounded his hideout. A U-S counter-terrorism official says he was one of the top 20 al-Qaida leaders being sought.

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