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Riyadh: Gulf interior ministers will meet later this month in Riyadh to work out strategies to prevent a possible infiltration of terrorists and foreign fighters from Iraq into the Gulf Cooperation Council states, in view of the deteriorating situation in Iraq. The meeting, slated for May 23, will review the ongoing efforts of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in combating terrorism, according to sources at the Ministry of Interior. UAE Interior Minister Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan will chair the meeting at the Conference Palace. Interior ministers from Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait will attend the meeting. The Saudi delegation will be headed by Interior Minister Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz.
"The meeting will discuss a number of topics pertaining to Gulf security as well as combating terrorism. The meeting will adopt a string of measures aimed at strengthening cooperation in wiping out the scourge of terrorism and draining out sources of terror funding," the sources pointed out. The interior ministers will look into various aspects of strengthening their security especially in the wake of the highly volatile situation prevailing in Iraq. There were apprehensions that terrorists and foreign fighters may infiltrate into the GCC states after receiving training in the war-torn country. The ministers will also chalk out ways to strengthen security cooperation in various fields. A meeting of the interior ministers of Iraq's neighbouring countries is scheduled to be held in Jeddah in September. Saudi Arabia had been battling Al Qaida terrorists for the past three years. Officials said about 144 foreigners and Saudis, including security forces, and 120 terrorists have died in attacks and clashes since May 2003. Prince Nayef recently announced the government's decision to set up a national security court to try terrorists in the next six months. To curb terror funding, he had issued directives banning the collection of donations from students, at various phases of education, toward or for the benefit of charitable organisations.
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