Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009
RIYADH (Zawya Dow Jones)--Senior Saudi royal Prince Turki al Faisal Al Saud called Tuesday for an end to violence in Gaza and said he's written to U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Mideast policy amid continued concern in Riyadh over Iran's nuclear program.
"We will not raise our hands in surrender," Prince Turki, who was formerly head of Saudi Arabia's secret police and ambassador to the U.S. told delegates at a security seminar in Riyadh.
In his speech Prince Turki also called for an end to violence in Gaza as Israeli troops continue their military campaign against Hamas.
"We're all Palestinians and we all seek martyrdom for the cause," Prince Turki al Faisal said at the Gulf Forum on U.S. Gulf relations.
Prince Turki said that he has written to U.S. President elect Barack Obama over Mideast policy and has expressed his concerns over regional issues including the peace process, partition of Iraq and the promotion of talks between Syria and Israel to limit Iran's influence in the region.
Concern over Iran's nuclear program was a theme of Prince Turki's speech.
"An arms race will not serve the interests of the region," he said.
-Mohammed Aly Sergie, Dow Jones Newswires, +96655-6221-334, mohammed.sergie@dowjones.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
06-01-09 0912GMT
