Saudi Crackdown Encourages Iraq Jihad, Clerics Say

[Khephra]

Saudi Crackdown Encourages Iraq Jihad, Clerics Say
Sun August 31, 2003 12:58 PM ET
By Andrew Hammond
RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi militants, facing a clampdown at home long demanded by Washington, are heading to Iraq for a holy war against the American "Satan," clerics and analysts say.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said last week that some of those attacking U.S. forces in Iraq are coming into the country from neighboring Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria.

Some clerics in the kingdom said a security crackdown by Saudi authorities on Muslim militants after deadly suicide bombings in Riyadh in May -- leading to bloody clashes and arrests -- was pushing militants to head to Iraq.

"Most youth think the only safe road is to go to Iraq. They are trapped between the international campaign against terrorism and this campaign at home. The only safe haven for them is to go to Iraq," said leading cleric Mohsen al-Awajy.

more......................

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3364293