Saudi steps up security on Iraq border

Asia Bulletin Saturday 13th December, 2003

Saudi Arabia has stepped up security measures along its border with Iraq to curb infiltration and escaping terrorists.

Border guards chief Brig. Gen. Talal Ankawi was quoted Saturday in the Saudi daily Okaz newspaper as saying the 480-mile border with Iraq was being monitored by more than 40 border points from which patrols are being launched around the clock.

Border guards were able to foil the infiltration of more than 5,000 people into Saudi Arabia in the past nine months, mostly drug dealers, Ankawi said.

He said the absence of formal authorities and security forces on the other side of the border in Iraq further exacerbated the problem and complicated the mission for Saudi guards.

The security measures have been stepped up along the borders with both Iraq and Yemen to curb the fleeing of wanted Saudi terrorists to those countries, he added.

Saudi Arabia recently published a list of 26 wanted terrorists in the bombings of residential compounds in Riyadh in which scores of civilians were killed.