Crown Prince Abdullah

JEDDAH, 27 October 2004 — Crown Prince Abdullah yesterday urged all government departments to mobilize their resources in the service of pilgrims who have come from within and outside the Kingdom for Umrah.

Addressing the Cabinet meeting in Riyadh, the crown prince welcomed the guests of God. According to the Saudi Press Agency, more than 1.3 million Umrah pilgrims have so far come from abroad.

“It is essential to provide these pilgrims with all facilities to help them perform prayers at the two holy mosques in peace and tranquillity,” SPA quoted the prince as telling government departments.

More than three million pilgrims from Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world are expected to perform Umrah this year. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has stated that an Umrah in Ramadan is equal to Haj.

Culture and Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said Eid holidays for government employees would start from the end of the working hours on Wednesday, Nov. 3 as the Cabinet decided to include Nov. 6 and 7 in the holidays.

The meeting expressed its deep sorrow over the continuing bloodbath in Iraq and called upon the Ummah and other countries to work for restoring peace and stability in the war-torn country.

The Cabinet denounced the continuing Israeli aggression against Palestinians and its killing of innocent Palestinian men, women and children and destruction of their houses and properties.

The meeting decided to import Palestinian products and exempt them from customs tariff for another year from 11/9/1425.

The meeting authorized the foreign minister or his deputy to sign an agreement with Malta for cooperation in economic, commercial, investment, scientific, technical and cultural sectors as well as in youth and sports affairs.

The Cabinet renewed the membership of Muhammad Abdullatif, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Quwaiz and Dr. Muhammad Ehsan Buhulaiga in the Communication and Information Technology Commission’s board for another three years.

It also appointed Muhammad ibn Abdullah Tasji ambassador, Saud ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Jabri, minister plenipotentiary at the Foreign Ministry, and Abdullah ibn Hamad Al-Tuwaijeri, deputy director of the National Computer Center at the Finance Ministry.

Terrorists Are ‘Foreign Agents’

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Prince Naif commended the security forces’ efforts in tracking down wanted terrorists.

Addressing a ceremony held in Riyadh on Monday night to honor retired ministry staff, he described the terrorists as foreign agents.

The minister called upon Islamic scholars to cleanse the minds of Saudi youth from deviant thoughts and bring them back to true Islamic teachings.

He urged security officers to do more to root out terrorism. “The plan to host an international counterterrorism conference in Riyadh is another proof that Saudi Arabia is totally against all forms of terrorism,” he added.