Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja has left the country because of threats made against him. An Arab diplomat confirmed the news of Khoja’s departure but refused to elaborate. According to reports, Ambassador Khoja left Beirut on Aug. 17 after the Saudi Embassy had formally notified the Lebanese Foreign Ministry of a “threat of attack against the ambassador’s residence, his person, the embassy or other Saudi interests in Lebanon.”The Saudi Embassy declined to comment but Khoja told Asharq Al-Awsat daily, “There were threats against the Saudi Embassy and against my person. But, the threats will not deter friendly countries such as Saudi Arabia and they will continue to exert efforts to restore security and stability in Lebanon and in the Arab world.”
The embassy cited warnings from the Saudi intelligence services that a stolen BMW was being readied to commit "a terrorist act against Saudi interests in Lebanon," a diplomat said.