The United States said today that Saudi Arabia needs to do more to fight terrorism in light of this week's suicide bombings in Riyadh and expected the Saudis to co-operate with an FBI team probing the attack.
US officials walked a tightrope between offering tepid criticism of Saudi Arabia and praising Saudi officials a day after the US ambassador to the kingdom complained that Saudis did not respond quickly enough to American requests for more security at compounds attacked this week by the bombers.
"We expect full co-operation in the investigation, and I think all indications are from the FBI assessment team that Saudi Arabia is co-operating," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
He said Saudi Arabia has provided "very good cooperation" in the war on terrorism, "but there is more that needs to be done."
Washington last week dispatched deputy White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley to Riyadh to underscore US fears of an imminent attack.
Days later, suicide bombers blew up Riyadh compounds housing mainly foreigners, killing at least 34 people, including seven Americans. The United States suspects al Qaeda was behind the attack and an FBI team has arrived there to help the investigation.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said there were no plans to further reduce US military ties with the kingdom, slashed in April after the Iraq war and an end to policing "no-fly" zones over Iraq from Prince Sultan air base.
AFP