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Saudi king chides UK on terrorism | Saudi king chides UK on terrorism |
(10 minutes later) | |
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has accused Britain of not doing enough to fight international terrorism, which he says could take 20 or 30 years to beat. | Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has accused Britain of not doing enough to fight international terrorism, which he says could take 20 or 30 years to beat. |
He was speaking in a BBC interview ahead of a state visit to the UK - the first by a Saudi monarch for 20 years. | He was speaking in a BBC interview ahead of a state visit to the UK - the first by a Saudi monarch for 20 years. |
He also said Britain failed to act on information passed by the Saudis which might have averted terrorist attacks. | He also said Britain failed to act on information passed by the Saudis which might have averted terrorist attacks. |
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says Whitehall officials have strenuously denied this. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says Whitehall officials have strenuously denied this. |
King Abdullah is expected to arrive in the UK on Monday afternoon; his visit begins formally on Tuesday. | King Abdullah is expected to arrive in the UK on Monday afternoon; his visit begins formally on Tuesday. |
In the BBC interview he said the fight against terrorism needed much more effort by countries such as Britain and that al-Qaeda continued to be a big problem for his country. | In the BBC interview he said the fight against terrorism needed much more effort by countries such as Britain and that al-Qaeda continued to be a big problem for his country. |
BBC world affairs correspondent John Simpson says King Abdullah is annoyed that the rest of the world has largely failed to act on his proposal for a UN clearing house for information about terrorism. | BBC world affairs correspondent John Simpson says King Abdullah is annoyed that the rest of the world has largely failed to act on his proposal for a UN clearing house for information about terrorism. |
Terror 'information' | Terror 'information' |
Speaking through an interpreter, the Saudi monarch said he believed most countries were not taking the issue seriously, "including, unfortunately, Great Britain". | Speaking through an interpreter, the Saudi monarch said he believed most countries were not taking the issue seriously, "including, unfortunately, Great Britain". |
"We have sent information to Great Britain before the terrorist attacks in Britain but unfortunately no action was taken. And it may have been able to maybe avert the tragedy." | "We have sent information to Great Britain before the terrorist attacks in Britain but unfortunately no action was taken. And it may have been able to maybe avert the tragedy." |
The Saudi leadership maintains that it passed the UK information that might have averted the London bombings of 2005 if it had been acted on. | The Saudi leadership maintains that it passed the UK information that might have averted the London bombings of 2005 if it had been acted on. |
An investigation by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) found no evidence of any intelligence passed on by the Saudis that could have prevented the 7 July 2005 bombings, the BBC's Frank Gardner said. | An investigation by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) found no evidence of any intelligence passed on by the Saudis that could have prevented the 7 July 2005 bombings, the BBC's Frank Gardner said. |
The king's visit has provoked controversy over Britain's relationship with Saudi Arabia. | The king's visit has provoked controversy over Britain's relationship with Saudi Arabia. |
A demonstration is planned outside the Saudi embassy in London later in the week in protest at the country's human rights record. | A demonstration is planned outside the Saudi embassy in London later in the week in protest at the country's human rights record. |
And acting Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable has announced he is boycotting the visit, citing the corruption scandal over Al Yamamah arms deal, and the Saudis' human rights record. | And acting Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable has announced he is boycotting the visit, citing the corruption scandal over Al Yamamah arms deal, and the Saudis' human rights record. |
Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, urged Prime Minister Gordon Brown to tell the Saudis that their human rights record was "totally unacceptable". | |
She added: "Mr Brown's message should be - reforms need to come, and they need to come quickly." | |
The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, has pulled out of a scheduled meeting with King Abdullah to spend time with his wife and their newly-adopted second son. | The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, has pulled out of a scheduled meeting with King Abdullah to spend time with his wife and their newly-adopted second son. |
It is understood that Mr Miliband is returning from the United States, where he was present at the birth of Jacob. He was replaced by Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells. | It is understood that Mr Miliband is returning from the United States, where he was present at the birth of Jacob. He was replaced by Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells. |
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said that the decision to invite King Abdullah was a reflection of the "long-standing friendship" between the two nations. | A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said that the decision to invite King Abdullah was a reflection of the "long-standing friendship" between the two nations. |