Saudi Arabia says Iraq "major base" for militants

RIYADH, Nov 13 (Reuters) Iraq has become a major centre for Islamic militancy in the region, Saudi Arabia's Interior Minister said in comments carried by state media today.

''The situation in Iraq is changing day by day, posing many dangers. We are handling this situation and doing everything we can ... There is no doubt that Iraq is now the main base for terrorism,'' Prince Nayef told reporters late yesterday.

Saudi Arabia is worried that, three years after a US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein, sectarian violence between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims could lead to a civil war and eventual break-up of its neighbour in the Gulf region.

The ongoing violence was a major reason behind losses for President George W Bush's Republican Party in US Congressional elections last week.

Saudis are among many Arabs who have gone to Iraq to join the Sunni insurgency against US forces and the US-backed government which is dominated by Shi'ites.

Saudi Arabia, a Sunni state with a Shi'ite minority, fears the violence in Iraq could spread into neighbouring countries.

Prince Nayef said Saudis fighting ''jihad'', or holy war, against US forces and Shi'ites in Iraq had been exploited by Islamic radicals. Al Qaeda, which is part of the Sunni insurgency, also wants to topple the US- allied Saudi monarchy.

''There are other parties trying to drag Saudis to carry out these acts, people who unfortunately use them as tools for explosions,'' he said, referring to suicide bomb attacks which killed dozens of Iraqis each week.

''They leave (Saudi Arabia) normally and go to Jordan and Syria and some manage to get to Iraq easily, but they can't do that from our borders,'' he added in the comments, which were also carried by state news agency SPA.

REUTERS PDM RAI2039