22-06-04
The United States has sent a tough message to Saudi Arabia that did not rule
out the abandoning of the kingdom's oil sector.
US officials said the Bush administration has warned that Americans would not
stay in Saudi Arabia unless the kingdom takes significant steps to protect them.
The officials said the warning came in wake of the Al Qaeda execution of
Lockheed Martin engineer Paul Johnson on June 18.
Fewer than 30,000 Americans were estimated to live in Saudi Arabia, with many
of them working in the defence and oil sectors. More than 5,000 Americans were
said to have left the kingdom over the last year and many more were said to
planning to leave for the summer.
"It could have an effect [on the Saudi oil industry]," State
Department spokesman Richard Boucher said. "Saudi authorities, as
commendable as their overall effort is, have not yet been able to stop the
terrorists to the point that everybody doesn't have to worry anymore."
Source: Middle East Newsline