Saudi authorities are still interrogating more than 100 Saudis from among hundreds rounded up for questioning about their alleged links with the Al-Qaeda organization, Interior Minister Prince Naif said. "Security authorities have already questioned nearly 700 Saudis who came back from Afghanistan," Prince Naif told reporters here last night. "Those who are still being held for interrogation number more than 100." The minister denied reports that thousands of former Mujahedeen had returned to the Kingdom from Afghanistan. "These reports are exaggerated," he said. The Saudi authorities were questioning the former Mujahedeen who fought against Soviet occupation forces for possible links to Osama Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network, which operated training bases in Afghanistan. Prince Naif's disclosure was the first official estimate of the number of detainees on terrorism charges in the Kingdom after last year's September 11th attacks on the United States. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers participating in those attacks were identified as Saudis.

Asked about the arrest of Mohammed Al-Sahim, a Saudi, in Riyadh, Prince Naif confirmed that Sahim had links with terrorist groups. "He was wanted for quite a long time," he said but gave no further details. He admitted there was delay in providing information on Sahim's arrest, opening the door for speculations. However, he said the delay was not intentional but was intended to prevent the provision of incomplete information.

The Interior Minister hoped that all Saudi prisoners held in the US prison camp in Guantanamo Bay would be released "but the decision should be taken by the US authorities." He added that Saudi Arabia was ready to send another delegation to the US base in Cuba if necessary. The Saudis arrested in Morocco had links with terrorist groups.

Prince Naif blasted British press reports that a Briton arrested in connection with a Riyadh blast and the killing of a German was tortured in a Saudi jail. "We know the truth and these reports will not change the truth." The investigations of people arrested in connection with the blast will take time, but embassies have access to their detained citizens and the Kingdom helps them with lawyers.

Asked about reports that Saudi Arabia plans to provide citizenship to about 26,000 people belonging to tribes living in border areas, Prince Naif said citizenship would be granted to those who have fulfilled the conditions. People applying for citizenship should be permanent residents in the Kingdom for at least five years, should have assimilated in society and their records must be clean. They can then apply for citizenship, but the Kingdom is not enthusiastic about giving citizenship to foreigners.

Prince Naif said the Kingdom will not allow any foreign parties to dictate what it should do. He highlighted the achievements of the Shura Council, which included highly qualified academics, professionals and experts.

Crown Prince Abdullah, Deputy Premier and commander of the National Guard, yesterday called for a national strategy to wipe out poverty quickly. "We have to admit this problem and implement the strategy immediately," he said after visiting old districts in Riyadh. "It's a tough challenge but we can overcome it with the help of God and by our own determination. We know that we will not be able to achieve our goal within a day or two."

The Crown Prince emphasized the need for making an all-out effort to eliminate poverty. "The problem of poverty cannot be tackled with resolutions, which are not supported by proper planning, and cannot be solved by dreams or ambitions. It requires a comprehensive national strategy based on mutual support. He urged wealthy Saudis to play a major role by cooperating with the Government to fight poverty. "We have to do our duty toward the people of our country who live in abject poverty, so that every citizen in the Kingdom can lead a decent and honorable life."

Prince Abdullah earlier had seen the appalling living conditions of the poor people who live in small, dilapidated houses and had listened to their tales of misery and their needs.