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Monday, August 31, 2009 KHOBAR: Saudi Arabia has tightened security at oil facilities after the country's anti-terror chief, Deputy Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, escaped a suicide attack, guards at Abqaiq, the world's biggest oil processing plant, said yesterday."Thursday night we received a call to tighten security and car inspection at all gates," one guard said. "Even Aramco employees undergo inspection. There's a lack of trust as militants disguised in Aramco's cars attacked the facility in 2006," he said.Interior Minister Prince Nayef yesterday defended the policy of enticing "repentant" militants after one tried to assassinate his son, but warned there could be more attacks ahead.

BAGHDAD: The Iranian foreign minister on Saturday called for Iraq's neighbours to hold a meeting to discuss Iraqi security after Baghdad accused Syria of harbouring the planners of two massive bomb attacks.Separately, Turkey's foreign minister is to visit Iraq and Syria on Monday to try to soothe relations between the two.Since 2003, tensions -- prone to flare-ups since around the time Saddam came to power in 1979 -- have centred on charges from Iraq's U.S.-backed government that Syria, estranged from Washington, has allowed insurgents to stream into Iraq. Iraqi politicians have also lashed out at Saudi Arabia for inciting Sunni Islamist insurgents, a charge the kingdom denies. And while Baghdad's relations with Tehran are cordial, the U.S. military complains that Iran arms and trains Shi'ite militia.Meanwhile, Iraq's relations with Kuwait to the south are strained as Baghdad chafes at Kuwait's insistence it continue to pay billions of dollars in reparation...

Thursday, August 27, 2009 URUMCHI: The Muslims in China are also observing the Holy month of Ramazan like other Muslims around the world. Security measures have been stepped up in Xinjiang following the last month's deadly ethnic riots. Urumchi city of Xinjiang province is home for a large number of Muslims who appear full of religious fervour with the onset of the Holy month of Ramazan. Special food items are prepared on the stalls set up for Iftar, where a large number of buyers swarm every day.