Homeland Security

DATE=6/13/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT (CQ)

TITLE=U.S. / SAUDI KIDNAP (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-316686

BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Washington Says Saudi Arabia Working to Counter Terrorist Threat

///EDITORS: Reissuing to change the dateline to White House stedda Washington in header.///

INTRO: The Bush administration says Saudi Arabia is cooperating fully in the search for militants who kidnapped an American and killed two others. V.O.A.'s Paula Wolfson reports from the White House.

TEXT: President Bush's national security advisor says Saudi Arabia knows it faces a terrorist threat, and is co-operating with the United States.

During an interview on C.N.N.'s Late Edition, Condoleezza Rice acknowledged the situation is dangerous, but stressed Washington is working closely with Riyadh.

/// RICE ACT ///

It is, like many places in the world right now, a place in which terrorists are trying to make their mark. We are doing everything that we can with the Saudis to try and protect those who are there.

/// END ACT ///

Millions of foreign workers are employed in Saudi Arabia, including 35-thousand Americans. On N.B.C.'s Meet the Press, Secretary of State Colin Powell denied the security situation there is unraveling, though he too acknowledged it has become more dangerous.

/// POWELL ACT ///

Terrorists are going after the Saudi leadership. They are trying to make the country unstable. And I know that the Saudis are treating it with the utmost seriousness and are counter-attacking.

/// END ACT ///

Earlier, Mr. Powell told the Fox News Sunday program that, while the kingdom has done a great deal to fight terrorism, it needs to do more.

/// POWELL ACT ///

I am satisfied with what they have done so far. I think that there is more that they can do. They can build up their forces. There is probably more we can do, with respect to intelligence exchange. And we are working all of these areas.

/// END ACT ///

An Internet statement, attributed to al-Qaida, claims responsibility for the latest violence against Americans in Saudi Arabia. It says the captured American will be treated in the same way U.S troops have treated Iraqis at Abu Ghraib prison. (SIGNED)

NEB/PW/RAE/TW