Saudi Arabia gives $100 mn for global counter-terror centre

Reaffirming his country's determination to combat terrorism, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has donated $100 million for supporting the international counterterrorism centre under the UN.

In a joint Eid-ul-Fitr message with Crown Prince Salman, King Abdullah, who is also the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, said: "Terrorism threatens global peace and stability."

He also called for joint international efforts to fight terrorism without any leniency toward militants and their sponsors.

"We should understand that terrorism will not disappear within a limited period. So we have to be prepared for a long fight with terrorism.

"Whenever we try to tighten the noose it could become increasingly aggressive and violent. But we have strong faith in God that it would be defeated," the message said.

While the Saudi King along with Prince Salman cautioned the Ummah (nation or community) against the danger paused by the distorted ideologies, King Abdullah stressed at the importance of activating the international counterterrorism centre, which he proposed during an anti-terror conference in Riyadh Feb 5, 2005.

Saudi Arabia had previously donated $10 million for the counterterrorism centre.

Meanwhile, Muslims in Saudi Arabia, including expatriates, celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr Thursday, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The Supreme Court had confirmed the sighting of Shawwal crescent by reliable witnesses Wednesday evening.

On this occasion, King Abdullah and Prince Salman decried the painful condition of the Muslim world as a result of civil wars and stand-offs, resulting in the killing of innocent people and terror among citizens.

Their message cautioned against the political motives of terrorist ideologies, distorting the meaning of religious texts to suit their vested interests, adding that such terrorists were tarnishing the image of Islam and its values and principles.

"They try to cause chaos and confusion in the earth," the joint message said citing a verse from the holy book of Quran.