Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet session held here today. At the beginning of the session, the king expressed appreciation for condolences on the death of King Fahd. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, Minister of Culture and Information Mr. Iyad Madani said the cabinet hoped that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip will be a step to be followed by other steps to withdraw from all Palestinian occupied lands so that the Palestinian people can build their state with Alquds as its capital. The cabinet reiterated Saudi Arabia's adherence to the peace initiative proposed by King Abdullah to the Arab Summit held in Beirut in 2002 and adopted by the summit to become an Arab peace initiative for the region. The cabinet stressed that this initiative, which is based on international legality resolutions, is the real framework for achieving just and comprehensive peace for the Palestinian cause. The cabinet warned against threats of radical groups to storm and attack Alaqsa Mosque, and stressed that these threats are provocative to feelings of Muslims since these threaten their holy places. The cabinet reiterated hope for unity of Iraqi people to achieve their goals of security, stability and prosperity which will lead to the integrity of the their national territory, emphasis of their Arab and Islamic identity and their return as an influential member of their Ummah (nation) and of the international community. The cabinet condemned the crime of assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on Friday, reiterated renunciation of all forms of terrorism and recalled to mind that terrorism has neither religion nor homeland. -- More 1959 Local Time 1659 GMT
