Saudis say suspects in Khobar bombing fled to Iran

ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia has acknowledged that authorities have identified three major suspects in the 1996 bombing of the U.S. military facility at Khobar.

The London-based Al Hayat daily said Saudi authorities have targeted three fugitives as being the chief suspects in the bombing. Two them were identified as Saudi nationals and the third a Lebanese citizen.

The newspaper, which is owned by the ruling Saudi family and reflects the policy of the kingdom, reported on Saturday that the whereabouts of the fugitives are not known. But they are believed to have fled to Iran and from there escaped to an unknown location.

The Khobar truck bombing killed 19 U.S. servicemen and U.S. officials have been criticial of the slow pace of the Saudi investigation. Saudi authorities have detained two other suspects in the bombing — both of them Saudi nationals.

The details of the Saudi investigation were released as Riyad has launched a new expanded ruling council amid reforms meant to combat such domestic woes as rising unemployment.

The consultative Shura council began its new session on Saturday in an expanded version. The new council contains 120 members, 30 more than the previous body.

The council will again be headed by former Saudi Justice Minister Mohammed Ibrahim Bin Jubair.