Riyadh, Nov 04: Saudi Arabia has sent yet another strong message to the United States, its main western ally, that it will not allow the use of its military facilities in threatened US strikes against Iraq. Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said yesterday Riyadh would not allow Washington to use its territory or airspace to attack Iraq even if the United Nations were to endorse military action. "We will cooperate with the (UN) Security Council, but as to entering the conflict or using the facilities as part of the conflict, that's something else," Prince Saud told CNN in an interview.
Saudi Arabia played a critical role in providing bases and air support to the US-led coalition during the 1991 Gulf War which liberated Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. The United States was also allowed to use the command and control systems at Prince Sultan air space in al-Kharj, South of Riyadh, during the war in Afghanistan last year.



"Saudi Arabia and the United States have strategic relations ... Based on mutual interests. In this case, Riyadh does not see any interest in attacking Iraq," said Anwar Eshki, head of the Jeddah-based Middle East Centre for Strategic and Legal Studies.



"The kingdom believes that a war against Iraq serves American interests alone and puts the Iraqi people at risk. For this reason, the kingdom is adamant it will not participate," Eshki told AFP.



Bureau Report