Mideast conflict can spread worldwide, Saudi king warns

Jun 18, 2007, 9:27 GMT

Madrid - The Middle East conflict can take 'worldwide dimensions,' Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud warned Monday.

King Abdullah gave the warning in an interview published by the daily El Pais the day he was scheduled to arrive in Spain for a three-day visit. The interview had taken place in the Moroccan city of Casablanca.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the situations in Iraq and Lebanon, the nuclear issue and terrorism had created a highly volatile situation which could spread beyond regional borders, Abdullah said.

'A nuclear programme in the region is one more load for it,' the monarch said concerning the Iranian nuclear programme. 'All countries have the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy,' he nevertheless added.

King Abdullah denied that Saudi Arabia was a pool of terrorists, stressing that terrorist cells had spread over many countries and that they made use of international conflicts.

Abdullah's visit will be the first official one by a Saudi monarch to Spain in 25 years. It will follow a visit to Saudi Arabia by Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in 2006.

Abdullah was scheduled to attend a gala dinner hosted by the royal couple after arrival on Monday. He was also to meet Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero during his visit.

The two countries were to sign agreements on anti-terrorism, judicial, economic and cultural cooperation.