ABU DHABI Ñ Interpol has appealed to Saudi Arabia to establish a
regional bureau to help detain insurgents wanted in the kingdom.
The proposed Saudi bureau would help coordinate Interpol efforts in Gulf
Cooperation Council states. The GCC is composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Officials said Interpol also wants to install a global communication
system in Saudi Arabia. They said the kingdom Ñ which has an Interpol
office just for Saudi Arabia Ñ has been designated as one of the preferred
sites for the system, which allows for round-the-clock communications
between Interpol and Riyad.
"We need a full-fledged bureau to bring together Arabic-speaking
countries and to ensure better exchange of information," Interpol
secretary-general Ronald Noble said. "The creation of the regional bureau
will improve ways to collect and share information related to international
crime in Arabic speaking countries, and will help in the fight against
terrorism, organized crime and all serious crimes."
Noble held talks with Saudi officials during a visit to the kingdom last
week. He said an Interpol office in the kingdom would bolster the agency's
efforts to develop Arabic as an official language in law enforcement.
For its part, Saudi Arabia has asked Interpol to help locate and arrest
750 nationals and expatriates suspected of a range of crimes. They include
money laundering and drug trafficking.
Interpol has regional bureaus in North Africa, Central America, South
America, South Africa and Central Africa. The agency has also asked Saudi
Arabia to send a representative to help Interpol fight terrorism.
