Abdullah, Rafsanjani Review Regional Developments

JEDDAH, 18 September 2005 -- Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday received a number of foreign dignitaries including former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani and President of the Progressive Socialist Party in Lebanon Walid Jumblatt.

Rafsanjani, who is chairman of the Expediency Council, conveyed the greetings of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad to the king.

"King Abdullah and Rafsanjani reviewed developments at Islamic and international levels and explored ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation," the Saudi Press Agency said.

King Abdullah also received groups of citizens who came to pledge their allegiance and support to the government's anti-terror campaign.

On Friday, King Abdullah received more than 40 women from the media and intellectuals at his palace and emphasized Saudi women's role in society.

Dr. Aziza Al-Manie, Eetidal Otaiwi, Badriya Al-Bashar, Dalal Aziz Zia and Jowhara Al-Anqari spoke at the audience representing academics, artists, intellectuals, media persons and writers. They thanked the king for giving an opportunity to meet him and present their hopes and aspirations.

Also yesterday, King Abdullah issued a royal decree appointing Sheikh Muhammad ibn Fahd ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Abdullah as head of the commission for investigation and public prosecution with "excellent" rank.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said normal diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Libya could be restored soon and said Saudi and Libyan ambassadors could be back at their missions in the near future. "There is nothing strange in relations returning to normal," he told Al-Hayat daily.

Saudi Arabia asked Libya's ambassador to leave in January over an alleged plot to assassinate King Abdullah in 2003, when he was crown prince. Libya has denied involvement in any such plot.

A week after he became king last month, Abdullah pardoned five Libyans held in relation to the alleged plot. Saudi security sources said they were about to be put on trial.

"Relations between Saudi Arabia and Libya were not severed," Prince Saud told the Arabic daily, adding that only the ambassadors were withdrawn.