Must time for another prison fire ...
Saudi Arabia's interior minister has confirmed that hundreds of suspected extremists are in detention and said an amnesty for militants who turn themselves in will not be extended despite the fact that only two have surrendered so far. "As far as those under arrest are concerned, there are hundreds," Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz told reporters late Monday after attending a session of the appointed Shura (Consultative) Council devoted to examining the wave of terrorism by suspected Al Qaeda sympathizers which began in May 2003. "Some have taken part in acts (of violence) and are being questioned. They will be put on trial," he said.
"Others have been convicted and will be released once they serve their sentences. It is an ongoing process and there is no fixed number. We always prefer to release the largest possible number if investigations do not require their continued detention," Nayef said.
| Cut anybody's head off? Didn't think so. |
King Fahd on June 23 offered an amnesty to militants who turn themselves in within a month, but only two - including one on a most-wanted list - have done so. "If we go back to the speech of (King Fahd), it set the deadline at one month and said there would be no (extension of the) deadline after that. I haven't been told otherwise," Prince Nayef said. "Those who surrendered have been reported to have done so, and no one else has (surrendered) until now," he said. However, Nayef said he hoped that Muslim clerics who have predicted that many suspects will give themselves up in the countdown to the expiry of the deadline will be proven right.
| They're all prob'ly waiting until the last minute. No doubt there'll be thousands of them on Day 29 1/2. |
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