Tuesday June 15, 2004 10:16 PM
By SALAH NASRAWI
Associated Press Writer
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Saudi Arabia's ruling crown prince warned Islamic militants Tuesday that the kingdom planned shortly to deploy more security forces than they had ever faced before.
``Be assured that the kingdom has enough men whom you haven't seen so far, but within the coming few days you will see them,'' Crown Prince Abdullah told the militants, whose attacks have increased during the past three months. His remarks were televised.
Westerners in Saudi Arabia are responding to the attacks by moving to high-security compounds or even to Bahrain, and by pushing for the right to armed private guards, according to diplomats and real estate agents.
Western embassies in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, are negotiating with the government for a relaxation of the ban on private security guards carrying firearms, a Western diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Some Westerners have expressed concern that terrorist sympathizers may have infiltrated the Saudi security services, the diplomat said.
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