Russian intelligence charges Saudis, Bin Laden had role in bombings

CAIRO -- The Islamic bombing campaign in Russia has increased tension between Moscow and Riyadh.

Russian security officials have accused Saudi elements of financing the war in Dagestan as well as bombings of Russian civilian targets in Moscow and other cities. More than 300 people have been killed in the bombings.

"The terrorists possess good financing sources, and the money comes from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria and Muslim extremist organizations in Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan," Ghassan Khan Ibrahimov, first deputy of the Russian intelligence service in Dagestan, said.

Other Russian officials said the violence was being sponsored by Saudi bomber Osama Bin Laden. They said the fighting in Dagestan as well as the terrorist campaign are being sponsored by Wahabi militants who received religious guidance in and help from Saudi Arabia. They said Moscow has approached Riyadh for an end to such support.

The allegations have angered Riyadh and Saudi officials have termed as lies the Russian assertions. On Tuesday, the Saudi daily A-Sharq al-Awsat, based in London, quoted Saudi officials as saying that Riyadh has nothing to do with the fighting or terrorism in Dagestan or Russia.

"Saudi Arabia has a fixed policy based on its Islamic belief to always achieve the stability of people and nations and not interfere in other countries' internal affairs," a Saudi source was quoted by the official SPA news agency as saying.

The sources said Saudi regime does not support terrorism or the anti-Russian campaign in Chechnya. The source termed the Russian claims as "lies."