New Saudi govt pledges unrelenting fight against terror

Charge d'affaires Rehab Mass-oud said that cooperation in the US-led "war on terror" would be the cornerstone of relations between the two allies, aside from working together in the economic field.

"Saudi Arabia will not stand for an evil cult using the Islamic faith as an excuse for mass violence," he told a news conference called to reaffirm Riyadh's close ties with Washington under King Abdullah's leadership.

He said Abdullah, in talks with US President George W. Bush at his Texas ranch during his visit to Washington in April, had "renewed our desire to be an ally both economically and in the war on terrorism."

The US-Saudi Arabia alliance was harshly tested by the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States in which 15 of 19 hijackers were Saudi.

But tensions began easing when Saudi Arabia, often accused in Washington of being lenient with terrorists, launched its own crackdown on al-Qaeda network chief Osama bin Laden's disciples.

"During his tenure as crown prince, the relationship between our two nations was challenged as never before on September 11, 2001," Massoud said. "The response was certain and unwavering" and relations "between our two great nations (will) become even stronger," he said.