ABU DHABI Ñ Saudi Arabia has tightened security measures amid reports of division within the ruling leadership.

Saudi officials said the measures include acceleration of plans to issue new identity documents to reduce forgeries. This includes the issuance of new magnetic strip passports for Saudi nationals.

The project was announced in wake of disclosures that several of the Islamic suicide attackers who destroyed the World Trade Center and parts of the Pentagon carried Saudi passports. Since then, Riyad has faced criticism for its lax security and passport control.

Saudi officials said the new passport will go a long way to improve security. Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Sajini, director of Saudi passport control, said the new document will eliminate 95 percent of reports of passport forgery. Sajini acknowledged that Saudi passports were being forged but said the problem was under control.

"This is a very limited problem," Sajini told the London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat daily. "It does not represent a trend or worrisome security concept."

Western diplomatic sources in the Gulf said Riyad is seeking to assuage the United States in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. On Tuesday, Riyad announced it was severing ties with the Afghan ruling Taliban movement, which has been harboring Saudi billionaire fugitive Osama Bin Laden.

"The kingdom announces it is cutting all of its relations with the Taliban government while affirming that it will keep standing by the Afghan people and will continue its support for everything that will achieve security, stability and prosperity for Afghanistan," a Saudi official statement, which did not mention Bin Laden, said.

The diplomatic sources said the announcement marked a victory for pro-Western elements in the Saudi royal family amid instability that stems from a succession struggle between Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz.

Abdullah has resisted U.S. appeals for Riyad to join a U.S.-led coalition against Bin Laden. Sultan urged that Saudi Arabia support Washington in the current effort. This includes Saudi permission for the United States to use a key air force base in the kingdom.

Saudi King Fahd has been felled by illness and was rushed to Geneva for medical treatment. The sources said much of the consultations on Saudi policy is being conducted in Switzerland.

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