(AP/Guardian-UK) - Saudi Arabia's highest religious body has condemned violence by Islamic militants and deemed helping terrorists "one of the greatest sins.'' The statement from the Council of Senior Clerics came a day after Saudi authorities arrested at least 11 suspected militants and seized a large weapons cache in the southern Jazan province. The government has cracked down heavily on Islamic militants since the May 12 suicide bombings in Riyadh that killed 26 people. The bombings also touched off a public debate over whether the strict form of Islam preached in the kingdom fostered intolerance and extremism.
2003-08-18 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive