Saudi Arabia has bolstered its forces in the Eastern Province
after an alert of an Al Qaida attack on the kingdom's oil fields and nearby
Shi'ite communities.
Saudi opposition sources said Riyad has reinforced National Guard troops
and has constructed barriers around the regional capital of Qatif. The
sources said the main concern is that Al Qaida would launch a suicide car
bombing in the city.
So far, Saudi authorities have closed off sections of the
Shi'ite-populated city of Qatif. Police also banned cars to
the Al Qalaa section of that city.
The Al Qaida threat comes amid an effort by the state-owned Saudi Aramco
to increase oil production at Qatif, Middle East Newsline reported. The effort has been plagued by safety
difficulties because of the proximity of the oil fields to Shi'ite
communities.
Saudi opposition sources said Al Qaida has been encouraged by Saudi
clerics to launch attacks on the Shi'ite minority amid demands for equal
rights with the Sunni majority. They said ruling clerics in Saudi Arabia
have been concerned that the destruction of the Iraqi regime of Saddam
Hussein would result in a Shi'ite-dominated Iraq that would encourage
separatism in Saudi Arabia.
Al Qaida has already issued several fatwas, or religious rulings, that
encourage violence against Sh'ites. On Jan. 14, Sheik Salman Al Odeh, a
pro-Al Qaida Saudi cleric, termed Shi'ites infidels and enemies. Another
pro-Al Qaida cleric, Sheik Safar Al Hawali, warned the Shi'ites that they
would be massacred while others called for the removal of Shi'ites from all
government positions.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has decided that it would replace much of its
security fence along the border with Yemen by an advanced technology system
that would employ sensors and cameras. Col. Abdullah Abu Nab, commander of
Saudi border police in the Najran province, said infrared cameras were being
deployed along the Yemen border. He said Saudi security forces were also
being bolstered in the Jizan area.
"The Jizan area has achieved great success in stopping smuggling
operations," Abu Nab said. "The most significant of which has been the
capture of 3,000 bullets recently as well as preventing one person from
smuggling a quantity of bombs and ammunition and who was captured in the
governorate."
