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| Saudi warning over tobacco firms | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Saudi Arabia has warned that it will sue global tobacco firms unless they pay the full cost of treating patients suffering from smoking-related illness. | Saudi Arabia has warned that it will sue global tobacco firms unless they pay the full cost of treating patients suffering from smoking-related illness. |
| The health ministry said it had already rejected a lower offer from the tobacco firms, though did not say what level of compensation it was seeking. | |
| According to local data, Saudis spend 5bn riyals (£667,000; $1.3bn) a year on tobacco and smoking-related goods. | According to local data, Saudis spend 5bn riyals (£667,000; $1.3bn) a year on tobacco and smoking-related goods. |
| Saudi Arabia has been stepping up its efforts to stop its population smoking. | Saudi Arabia has been stepping up its efforts to stop its population smoking. |
| A royal decree has banned smoking in all government and state buildings, while there is also a ban on advertising cigarettes in the local press or on television. | A royal decree has banned smoking in all government and state buildings, while there is also a ban on advertising cigarettes in the local press or on television. |
| One out of every 10 Saudis smokes, the World Health Organization estimates, though some analysts and groups have questioned this figure, saying that it is closer to 30%. | One out of every 10 Saudis smokes, the World Health Organization estimates, though some analysts and groups have questioned this figure, saying that it is closer to 30%. |
| Reuters quoted the Anti-Smoking Society as saying that 22,000 Saudis died of smoking related diseases every year. | Reuters quoted the Anti-Smoking Society as saying that 22,000 Saudis died of smoking related diseases every year. |
| Health Minister Hamad al-Manie said: "Representatives of tobacco companies have to pay both the patients and the health ministry for the costs of treatment. | Health Minister Hamad al-Manie said: "Representatives of tobacco companies have to pay both the patients and the health ministry for the costs of treatment. |
| "Otherwise, the ministry will go ahead with the lawsuit." | "Otherwise, the ministry will go ahead with the lawsuit." |