Saudi denies minister's remarks on women's rights

RIYADH, Nov 16 (Reuters) Saudi Arabia today rejected as a fabrication a newspaper interview that quoted the interior minister as saying women may get some voting rights in the kingdom but would not be allowed to drive.

''His Excellency did not speak to this newspaper at all,'' an Interior Ministry official told the state Saudi Press Agency.

Interior Minister Prince Nayef, a key member of the royal family, was quoted on Tuesday by Kuwait's al-Anbaa daily as putting a damper on hopes that Saudi women could soon be allowed to drive in the conservative Islamic state.

The right of women to drive has been a key demand of reformers in the US-allied absolute monarchy, which follows an austere form of Islam. It has been backed by some government ministers.

Prince Nayef was also quoted by the newspaper as saying Saudi Arabia would start work next year on a 900 km security fence along its border with Iraq to stop militants from entering the kingdom.

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