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Saudi King: Britain Lax on Terror

Monarch maintains UK ignored intelligence that may have averted 7/7

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 29, 2007 1:44 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Britain needs to do more to fight international terrorism, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah says. Speaking on the eve of the first official visit to the UK by a Saudi ruler in 20 years, the monarch said his government passed along intelligence that could have averted the 7/7 bombings "but unfortunately no action was taken," the BBC reports.

"It may have been able to maybe avert the tragedy," the king said. A spokesman for PM Gordon Brown told the Guardian no such intelligence was received before the 2005 attacks. Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable is boycotting the 4-day visit, saying Britain needs a tougher stance on Saudi Arabia's human rights record.

Saudi Arabia's ambassador to London, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf speaks at the 'Two Kingdoms Dialogue' meeting at Lancaster House in London Monday Oct. 29, 2007. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who arrives in London Tuesday on a State Visit, accused Britain of failing to act on information the Saudis provided,...
Saudi Arabia's ambassador to London, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf speaks at the 'Two Kingdoms Dialogue' meeting at Lancaster House in London Monday Oct. 29, 2007. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who arrives...   (Associated Press)
Saudi Arabia's ambassador to London, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf speaks at the 'Two Kingdoms Dialogue' meeting at Lancaster House in London Monday Oct. 29, 2007. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who arrives in London Tuesday on a State Visit, accused Britain of failing to act on information the Saudis provided,...
Saudi Arabia's ambassador to London, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf speaks at the 'Two Kingdoms Dialogue' meeting at Lancaster House in London Monday Oct. 29, 2007. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who arrives...   (Associated Press)
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, left, is greeted by Britain's Prince Charles, foreground right, at Heathrow airport, London Monday Oct. 29, 2007. King Abdullah who arrived in London on a State Visit, accused Britain of failing to act on information the Saudis provided, that might have averted London's deadly July...
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, left, is greeted by Britain's Prince Charles, foreground right, at Heathrow airport, London Monday Oct. 29, 2007. King Abdullah who arrived in London on a State Visit,...   (Associated Press)
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, right, and Britain's Prince Charles, drives away from Heathrow airport, London Monday Oct. 29, 2007. King Abdullah who arrived in London on a State Visit, accused Britain of failing to act on information the Saudis provided, that might have averted London's deadly July 7, 2005,...
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, right, and Britain's Prince Charles, drives away from Heathrow airport, London Monday Oct. 29, 2007. King Abdullah who arrived in London on a State Visit, accused...   (Associated Press)
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Saudi king criticizes British terror efforts
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King Abdullah • Gordon Brown • Britain • Vince Cable

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