Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired today at Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh the weekly cabinet meeting. At the outset of the session, the King briefed the cabinet on the contacts, meetings and consultation he held over the past few days with a number of world leaders or their envoys including the two phone calls he received from Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al Bashier and Afghan president Hamid Karzai. He also briefed the cabinet on the meetings he held with former U.S. president Jimmy Carter; Belgian Crown Prince Phillipe; and Canadian FM Lawrence Cannon. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shortly following the session, acting Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Yousif Al Othaimin said that the cabinet listened to a number of reports on regional and international issues condemning the aggressive Israeli Police assault on the Alaqsa Mosque as well as its use of violence against worshippers. Al Othaimin added that the cabinet denounced the incident as provocative to Muslims worldwide and warned that it could result in serious repercussions on international peace and stability. The cabinet called once more upon world community to take up its responsibility in stopping future attempts as well as in protecting the Palestinian People. The cabinet also expressed condemnation over the two terrorist attacks which targeted the Iraqi government"s headquarters in Baghdad and resulted in the death and injury of hundreds. In this regard, the Kingdom renewed its staunch position against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Al Othaimin added that the cabinet was also briefed on the latest A. H1.N1 virus developments, expressing relief at the health status of students. The cabinet stressed that all necessary preventive measures must be taken to ensure the safety of all. -- More
