The latest in Saudi Arabia

Yemen rebels free prisoners

2010-03-16T13:16:53Z

<div><p>Shiite rebels in north Yemen freed on Tuesday the 178 prisoners they were holding, a mediator announced, and said they were complying with a ceasefire that ended six months of fighting on February 12.</p><p>Rebels led by Abdul Malek al-Huthi "turned over 178 prisoners to us in (the northern city of) Saada -- officers, soldiers and civilians -- who will...

Yemen rebels promise to free prisoners in 48 hours

2010-03-16T09:17:42Z

<div><p>Shiite rebels in north Yemen pledged on Tuesday to free soldiers they are holding within two days, and said they are complying with a ceasefire that ended six months of fighting on February 12.</p><p>"The prisoners of war will be freed within 48 hours and we expect our prisoners to be freed in return," rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdel Salam told AFP.<...

Saudi warns charity scams could fund terror

2010-03-15T13:17:35Z

<div><p>Saudi Arabia warned its citizens on Monday to be wary of Internet and cellphone scams involving bogus charities that could be aimed at funding terror activities.</p><p>"We have noticed lately that there are many announcements that come through mobile messages, through the Internet, through different media, announcing a bank account for people to donate to" for ostensibly legitimate purposes, interior ministry...

Saudis deny discussing pressure on China over Iran with US

2010-03-12T10:16:36Z

<div><p>Saudi Arabia denied on Friday that its officials had discussed with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates putting pressure on China to back a new round of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear ambitions.</p><p>An "official source" quoted by the official SPA news agency said report...

Gates Saudi Arabia

2010-03-11T13:03:41Z

In a photo provided by the Department of Defense, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates prepares to board his aircraft upon his departure from the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Cherie Cullen)

U.K. man says he plans to make the first round-the-world trip in a customized rotorcraft known as an autogyro.</p><p>Norman Surplus says he hopes to kick off his 27,000 mile (43,000 kilometer) circumnavigation from the seaside town of Larne in...

Thousands protest against crackdown in south Yemen

2010-03-11T06:00:13Z

<div><p>SANAA (Reuters) - Yemeni forces launched an attack Thursday to recapture a government building occupied by separatists in the south of the country, setting off a gunfight that killed two people, a local official and witnesses said.</p><p>Two protesters were shot dead as security forces tried to quash a separatist demonstration in another southern province. Elsewhere in Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday appealed to Saudi leaders to back a US-led drive for tough sanctions against Iran in a visit to Riyadh and came away "hopeful," his press secretary said.</p><p>Gates met King Abdullah and the Saudi crown prince as part of

Gates, in Riyadh, seeks Saudi help on Iran sanctions

2010-03-10T15:00:43Z

<div><p>RIYADH (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah for support lobbying for U.N. sanctions against Iran on Wednesday and d...

Mideast Saudi US

2010-03-10T13:18:29Z

In this photo released by the Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, left, greets U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, before their talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, March 10, 2010...

Secretary of Defense Gates Middle East Diplomacy Trip

2010-03-10T11:33:48Z

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 10: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates (L) meets with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz (R) at the Janadriyah farm on March 10, 2010 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Gates flew into Riyadh for talks expected to focus on Iran...

US defence chief Gates in Saudi for talks on Iran

2010-03-10T09:16:55Z

<div><p>US Defence Secretary Robert Gates flew into the Saudi capital on Wednesday for talks expected to focus on Iran's nuclear programme and Washington's push for tough sanctions against Tehran.</p><p>Gates was due to meet US Defence Secretary Robert Gates flew into the Saudi capital on Wednesday for talks expected to focus on Iran's nuclear programme and Washington's push for tough sanctions against Tehran.</p><p>Gates was due to meet Sheik Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, grand sheik of Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's pre-eminent theological institute, left, accompanies Palestinian authority President Mahmoud Abbas, at the Azhar headquarters, in Cairo, Egypt....

Gates to discuss Iran pressure during Saudi visit

2010-03-10T05:00:15Z

<div><p>RIYADH (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss efforts to put pressure on Iran, stabilize Yemen and to urge the Saudis to eng...

Top Sunni cleric Tantawi dies of heart attack

2010-03-10T02:15:51Z

<div><p>Sunni Islam's top cleric, Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, died on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia of a heart attack suffered while boarding a plane, Egyptian officials and state media said.</p><p>Tantawi, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar -- Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning -- was in Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar -- Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning -- died on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia of a heart attack, the official MENA news agency reported.</p><p>Tantawi, 81,...

Saudi security confiscate books by reformer

2010-03-09T11:45:25Z

<div id="subtitle">Saudi security confiscate books by prominent reformer at Riyadh book fair</div><div><p>Saudi security forces confiscated books of a well-known reformer and critic of the royal family from stalls at the kingdom's annual international book fair, a Saudi civil rights group said Saturday.</p><p>The Saudi Civil and Polit...

Women's rights improving in Middle East: study

2010-03-04T11:19:55Z

<div><p>Women's rights have improved in 15 of 18 countries in the Middle East and North Africa over the past five years, although violence against women remains widespread throughout the region, a US study has found.</p><p>Democracy watchdog group Freedom House pointed to "modest" economic, educational and ...

Religious schools under scrutiny in Yemen

2010-03-03T04:30:42Z

<div><p>TARIM, Yemen (Reuters) - Malaysian student Mohamed Fatri Ben Kazrah flew half way round the world to fulfill his dream of studying Islam and Arabic at a Yemeni religious school.</p><p>Ben Kazrah is one of hundreds of students from Asia and Africa in Tarim, a historic town ack...