Saudi says Qaeda threat not over despite arrests

RIYADH, Apr 28 (Reuters) The arrest of 172 suspected militants did not end the al Qaeda-linked threat in Saudi Arabia, the interior minister was quoted today as saying.

Prince Nayef told the Arabic-language al-Riyadh daily a Saudi man was held on suspicion of being the spiritual leader of the largest of the seven cells which were smashed, foiling a plot to attack oil facilities and military bases.

''We cannot say that we are finished from these deviants,'' Prince Nayef said. ''But efforts will continue. The eyes...are wide open and efforts are under way to purify our country from every evil.'' The Interior Ministry said yesterday it had foiled an al Qaeda-linked plot to attack oil facilities, military bases and public figures, arresting 172 people, including some who it said had trained to use aircraft for suicide attacks.

Most of those arrested were Saudis, and security sources said others were from Yemen, Nigeria and other countries. Police seized weapons, computers and more than 20 million riyals (5 million) dollars in cash.

Islamist militants swearing allegiance to al Qaeda launched a violent campaign to topple the U.S.-allied Saudi monarchy in 2003, carrying out suicide bomb attacks on foreigners and government installations, including the oil industry.

Saudi Arabia is the world's top oil exporter, supplying about 7 million barrels a day to world markets. It holds nearly a quarter of the world's oil reserves.

SCEPTICISM Thomas Hegghammer, a Norway-based counter-terrorism expert, said the men were arrested over a period of nine months.

''I don't see it as one big plot... These guys were picked up over a period of nine months, and I suspect they include many different groups involved in a variety of activities,'' he said.

Such activities might include recruiting militants for Iraq and Internet propaganda, he said.

The last announced break-up of a major cell was in December.

''We're seeing a new communication strategy from the Interior Ministry. Instead of announcing arrests as they happen -- which projects an image of continuous instability -- they save them up and present them in bulk,'' Hegghammer said.

One Western diplomat has suggested that the authorities, who have not yet provided names and other details of the detainees, were trying to play up their anti-terrorism efforts before the West and emphasise the militant danger to the Saudi public.

Most of the 19 al Qaeda militants who commandeered hijacked planes in the Sept. 11 attack on the United States were Saudis.

Prince Nayef said members of the largest cell swore allegiance to their leader at the Kaaba, a sacred site inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest city.

''Unfortunately, he is a Saudi. He was arrested along with the group,'' he said, without giving further details.

LOYALTY VIOLATED Saudi Arabia's top official cleric, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel-aziz Al al-Sheikh said in a statement the oath was a violation of the principle of loyalty to the Saudi royal family.

''Their brazen oath to their leader and preparations involving arming themselves is a revolt against the ruler,'' he said, describing this as ''the most grave of sins''.

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