Cersanit Znacząca umowa Cersanit S.A.

2004-01-29 21:04

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2004-01-29 21:04

(Adds details, source says some militants escaped para 6) By Dominic Evans RIYADH, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Saudi security forces captured a wanted militant and a number of other suspects on Thursday after a firefight in Riyadh in which five policemen were killed. An Interior Ministry statement said the wanted militant's father was also killed and two policemen were injured in the clash in the east of the Saudi capital a day before the start of the annual haj pilgrimage. The kingdom is battling a surge in violence which is believed to be linked to Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network. At least 50 people were killed by suicide bomb attacks on Riyadh housing compounds last year. "The captured terrorist is very important," an Interior Ministry official told Reuters, adding he was not on a list of 24 militants named by the government. The statement said police seized grenades, automatic rifles and five revolvers after raiding a house in the residential district of Faiha where the suspected militants were staying. It said police had been tipped off by the wanted man's father. Dozens of police cars sealed off roads close to the scene, but one security source said several militants had managed to escape. Officials were not immediately able to comment. Riyadh is some 700 km (440 miles) east of Mecca, where more than two million pilgrims are due to embark on the five-day haj ritual on Friday. Diplomats say the Saudi government is worried militants will strike during the haj to undermine the ruling family, whose authority largely stems from its custodianship of Islam's holiest sites. "It is a great tradition to worry at the time of the haj and this year they are really fastening their seat belts," said one Western diplomat referring to the royal family. On Tuesday, Interior Minister Prince Nayef said Saudi Arabia was prepared to confront any threats to the security of the pilgrims. This year's haj is the first since last year's suicide blasts in Riyadh and also follows the U.S. invasion of Iraq which has drawn Muslim militants towards its northern neighbour. Saudi Arabia, which insists the haj should be solely a religious affair, has deployed a vast army of police in and around Mecca, including a special "anti-demonstrations" unit. Last month it named 26 top suspects wanted in connection with "terrorist" operations in the kingdom and has offered a seven million riyal ($1.9 million) reward to anyone who helped thwart a future militant attack. Since then security forces have killed one suspect and arrested another. Pictures of the wanted men appear daily in newspapers with calls for help for their capture and leaflets appealing to foreign workers have also been distributed. ((Reporting by Dominic Evans; editing by Rosalind Russell; Reuters Messaging: Miral.Fahmy.reuters.com@reuters.net; email miral.fahmy@reuters.com; Tel: +971 4 391 8301))

Źródło:Komunikaty spółek (ESPI)

Cersanit Znacząca umowa Cersanit S.A.

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