Saudis Cutting Support for Militant Islam Diplomatic Status Ended for Clerics Overseas By Susan Schmidt and Caryle Murphy Washington Post Staff Writers Sunday, December 7, 2003; Page A01 U.S. authorities have revoked the diplomatic visa of an influential Islamic cleric, and the Saudi government has decided it will no longer sponsor an Islamic institute in Virginia where he sometimes lectured, moves that reflect both nations' increasing efforts to curb the spread of extremist Islamic rhetoric, according to U.S. and Saudi officials.