Saudis to give additional protection to oil fields

Saudi Arabia will set up special security units to protect oil and industrial facilities against militant attacks, the Interior Minister said. Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz also told members of the unelected Shura Council that the kingdom was holding more than 3,000 suspects, many linked to a campaign by Al Qaeda launched in 2003 to overthrow the pro-Western royal family. Saudi Arabia has said it foiled at least two major plots since 2006 to hit major oil facilities in the kingdom, the world’s largest oil exporter. The Saudi plan calls for establishing a force of 35,000 men to protect oil and industrial installations.

Saudi Arabia is estimated to hold 25 percent of the world’s known oil reserves. It has undertaken an ambitious campaign to become one of the world’s leading petrochemical manufacturers. Security is already tight around oil installations, which are mostly in the Eastern Province near the Gulf coast.

Three months ago more than 170 people were arrested for planning attacks on oil and industrial facilities, including some who had been training as pilots in preparation for possible suicide operations. Five of the men played a role in an attempt to storm a major oil facility at Abqaiq in February 2006, a security source said.