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| Hundreds face Saudi terror trials | Hundreds face Saudi terror trials |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Saudi Arabia has laid charges against 991 suspected al-Qaeda militants, the interior minister says. | Saudi Arabia has laid charges against 991 suspected al-Qaeda militants, the interior minister says. |
| Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz said authorities had started to "bring the suspects before the judiciary". | Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz said authorities had started to "bring the suspects before the judiciary". |
| He gave no details of trial dates, specific charges or the identities of suspects. He said 164 people had died in militant attacks since 2003. | He gave no details of trial dates, specific charges or the identities of suspects. He said 164 people had died in militant attacks since 2003. |
| Analysts say Riyadh has been reluctant to try suspected militants, fearing a backlash by domestic sympathisers. | Analysts say Riyadh has been reluctant to try suspected militants, fearing a backlash by domestic sympathisers. |
| "In the past few years, the kingdom has been the target of an organised terrorist campaign linked to networks of strife and sedition overseas," Prince Nayef said in a statement reported by the Saudi Press Agency. | "In the past few years, the kingdom has been the target of an organised terrorist campaign linked to networks of strife and sedition overseas," Prince Nayef said in a statement reported by the Saudi Press Agency. |
| He added that the campaign was directly linked to the organisation called al Qaeda | |
| Rights concerns | Rights concerns |
| Militants have been responsible for more than 30 attacks in the conservative Muslim kingdom since May 2003, he added. | Militants have been responsible for more than 30 attacks in the conservative Muslim kingdom since May 2003, he added. |
| Ninety civilians and 74 members of the security forces had been killed, while 439 civilians and 657 members of the security forces had been injured, he said. | Ninety civilians and 74 members of the security forces had been killed, while 439 civilians and 657 members of the security forces had been injured, he said. |
| Another 160 attacks were foiled, his statement said. | Another 160 attacks were foiled, his statement said. |
| The US-based group Human Rights Watch said it had requested authorisation to send observers to the trials. | The US-based group Human Rights Watch said it had requested authorisation to send observers to the trials. |
| The group said Saudi Arabia held about 3,000 suspected militants in its intelligence detention facilities for years without charge or access to legal counsel. | The group said Saudi Arabia held about 3,000 suspected militants in its intelligence detention facilities for years without charge or access to legal counsel. |
| In November 2007, it freed 1,500 suspects after a re-education programme but has arrested many more since, it said. | In November 2007, it freed 1,500 suspects after a re-education programme but has arrested many more since, it said. |