Posted on 02/09/2004 11:57:14 AM PST by gdyniawitawa
Prince Charles has touched down in Riyadh for a visit to Saudi Arabia.
It is part of a Middle Eastern tour that has taken in Iran and Iraq.
Earlier, he met survivors of the Iranian earthquake which devastated city of Bam.
The visit to Saudi Arabia comes despite continued fears of terrorist attacks against westerners.
Charles's visit was intended to offer solidarity to the kingdom after it suffered numerous fatal bombings over the past year.
Terror attacks
Current Foreign Office advice warns against all but essential travel to the region, but Charles landed in the capital, Riyadh this evening following historic tours of Iraq and Iran.
All destinations for his brief foreign trip were kept under wraps due to security concerns.
Charles has regularly visited Saudi over the years, last returning in 2001.
Since then the country has suffered horrific bomb attacks targeted at westerners in residential compounds.
In November last year, 18 people died and more than 80 were injured when a compound in Riyadh was hit.
Six months earlier, 30 people were killed, including two Britons, in blasts at another residency.
Details secret
A senior aide to Charles said: "We're going because we're also in this war against terrorism.
"We've now got good co-operation. We're fellow victims."
Details of Charles's engagements tomorrow have not been released.
British Airways cancelled flights to the capital city on December 31 and January 4 but resumed them following a security review.
The Foreign Office warned on its website that it believes further bomb plots are being hatched and could be in the final stages of preparation.
Charles is understood to have been asked to visit the country, by the Foreign Office.
Last Updated: 18:17 UK, Monday February 09, 2004
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