BREAKING NEWS Close associate of Osama bin Laden, Khaled al-Harbi, surrenders

www.cnn.com ^

[urbanrights]

BREAKING NEWS Close associate of Osama bin Laden, Khaled al-Harbi, surrenders to Saudi security officials in Tehran, Saudi official says. Details soon.

[usflagwaver]

I thought the amnesty was only good if they hadn't actually killed anybody. And it is only an amnesty against being put to death. They could get life in prison.

[Dog]

There is a game taking place here.....and I can't figure it out.....why would the Iranians allow this.

[Cap Huff]

The Saudi amnesty was only for those who are said not to have "blood on their hands." That's how I remember the deal. Zawahiri does, and I'm sure you remember that he is also wanted in Egypt.

[Gabz]

Thanks.......I was hoping it wasn't my faulty memory!!!

[Cap Huff]

"Showed up on the Afghan /Iran Border . . ."

Conjecture? Or is this being reported somewhere?

[RightWhale]

Probably so.

[Dog]

Doesn't mean a thing to the Saudis...if they want to stick it to Egypt over Zawahiri they would.

[OXENinFLA]

surrenders to Saudi security officials in Tehran

So when will the Saudis let him go?????

[Southack]

"Khaled bin Odeh bin Mohammed al-Harbi, alias Abu Suleiman al-Makki he is married to the daughter of Ayman al-Zawahiri..."

It's my understanding that Iran has several al qaeda bigwigs under house arrest, refusing to release them to the U.S.

Apparently they don't mind releasing them to Saudi Arabia, who no doubt will give us access to interrogate them (please, no useless cracks about panties on the head; that joke's old).

[Chad Fairbanks]

How could the Iranians stop it? Short of storming the embassy and taking hostages, or attacking the Saudi dimplomatic vehicle as it begins transporting this guy, what else could they really do?

I think, and maybe it's just me, that the Mullahs just got ButtF...d... and they'll be feeling it for a while. ;0)

[ken5050]

He'll be dead.."accidentally"..within two days...

[Dog]

I thought the amnesty was for only acts done in the kingdom......not for acts committed worldwide.

[AdmSmith]

Here is info from Saudi on the amnesty:

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=48238&d=12&m=7&y=2004&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

Time Running Out, Abdullah Tells Terrorists Staff Writer

JEDDAH, 12 July 2004 - Crown Prince Abdullah has warned militants still in hiding to take advantage of the days remaining before an amnesty ends this month or face a renewed crackdown.

Only two militants, one of whom is on a list of 26 most wanted terror suspects issued last year, have surrendered under the one-month deal announced June 23.

"When this month expires, neither the state nor the people will allow them any excuses," the crown prince told senior officials and Saudi citizens here on Saturday evening.

On June 23, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd announced a 30-day partial amnesty for terrorists. In a televised speech read out by the crown prince, the king said those who heed the call and give themselves up would not be punished by the state but could still have to account for their crimes under Shariah law.

"All those affiliated to this group (of terrorists) and who were not captured have a chance to return to God and engage in soul-searching. Those who turn themselves in of their own will within a month of this speech will be secure in the security of God... and will be treated according to God’s law pertaining to the rights of others," the speech said

Saudi officials have repeatedly stressed that the government was not offering the pardon out of weakness but to give extremists an opportunity to come to their senses.

The crown prince told Saturday’s audience the state will hunt down all those who do not surrender. "We will be with those who follow God’s guidance, but we will go after those who follow the devil. Those who heed the call and give themselves up will have divine law applied on them. But those who follow in the footsteps of the devil will face destruction, chastisement and God’s wrath," he said.

At least 87 policemen and civilians have been killed since May 2003 in a wave of attacks on government sites, oil firms and residential compounds by militants. The original list of 26 most wanted men issued by the Interior Ministry after the November 2003 suicide attack on a Riyadh housing compound has now been reduced to half after a number of militants were either killed or gave themselves up.

Last month security forces killed the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Kingdom, Abdul Aziz Al-Muqrin, together with three henchmen hours after they beheaded US hostage Paul M. Johnson whom they had seized three days earlier.

[No Blue States]

Your Welcome. Add this to the list:

"20 Al Qaeda Suspects in Custody in Iran" (breaking in FR)

And the Iraqi Police arrest 500 too.

Something is going on today, might the at least some of the terrorists have reached the breaking point and are starting to collapse?

We can only hope.

[cajungirl]

Makes me wonder what kind of pressure the Saudis and the Iranians are getting from us. Feels to me like this is related to the increased fear of terror attacks and perhaps some backstage threats to the Saudis and the Iranians. This is very interesting. And the amnesty, that can be dealt with later but I suspect a Saudi prison is not a fun place.

[whatexit]

Not one-legged, apparently. No-legged. An article posted earlier in this thread states "that he lost his legs "

He's affectionately known to his friends as Khaled al-Weeble.

[Puddleglum]

I'm glad to see the Arabs policing themselves. There'll be no crying about folks having to wear panties on their heads or having a dog growl at them. This is a good sign.

[cajungirl]

You are soooo baaaad!

[Dog]

Adam can you locate the list of the 26 wanted in Saudi Arabia?

[Gabz]

You're right....we can only hope.

I'm newsless at the moment......the 6year old has hijacked my TV...so I am thankful for fellow FReepers keeping the rest of us up to date!!!!