Wanted militant surrenders
2004-06-28 13:54
Riyadh - One of Saudi Arabia's most wanted men, a renegade former non-commissioned army officer, surrendered on Monday. He is the second Islamic militant to take advantage of an official amnesty offer for Al-Qaeda supporters, according to his family.
Othman Hadi al-Maqbul al-Aamri, 37, gave himself up at his home village of Beni Amr after two years on the run, relatives said.
Saudi security sources confirmed that al-Aamri had given himself up.
His name figures at number 19 on the interior ministry's most wanted list, established at the end of 2002 as Muslim extremists staged a wave of bloody attacks.
The list included 26 suspects but today 11 of them have either been killed or jailed under a massive crackdown that has seen hundreds arrested and an escalation of violence targeting Westerners.
The ministry announced on June 24 that Saaban bin Mohammad bin Abdullah al-Laylahi al-Shihri, who was wanted in a security-related case, had surrendered to security authorities, just a day after King Fahd announced the "last chance" amnesty.
Al-Qaeda extremists were offered the amnesty if they turned themselves in within a month and warned that those who did not would face a harsh crackdown.
The amnesty guarantees personal safety and the dropping of all charges for those who repent. It reserves the right of individuals harmed by terror acts to either seek redress through the courts or waive any claims.
The offer of a pardon came close on the heels of the June 18 killing of al-Qaeda's local chief, Abdul Aziz al-Muqrin, and three of his henchmen, after websites posted photos of an American hostage they beheaded.
Saudi Arabia's chief diplomat has meanwhile sought to assure Westerners that their security was a top priority for officials, who have recently multiplied words of comfort to expatriates fearful the spate of attacks is not over.
"We will assume our responsibilities to ensure their safety and security the same as the security and safety of our citizens," said Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal after meeting Western ambassadors on Sunday.
He underlined that the Saudi government was prepared to allow foreigners to carry guns.
- AFP