SATURDAY OCTOBER 20 2001

Prince enlisted to woo Saudis

BY ANDREW PIERCE

THE Prince of Wales is to use his close links with the Saudi Royal Family to bolster Tony Blair’s faltering diplomatic mission in the kingdom in the war against terrorism.

Downing Street has accepted an offer by the Prince to use his influence to try to improve relations between the coalition against Osama bin Laden and the Saudi rulers.

The Prince has made a number of visits to the kingdom, including a trip earlier this year.

He is on close terms with Dr Ghazi Algosaibi, the Saudi Ambassador to London. The Prince is also in contact with several leading members of the Saudi Royal Family.

The agreement that he should help was reached in secret talks this week between Downing Street and St James’s Palace.

Downing Street emphasised yesterday that Prince Charles would not be going to Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Government, but would concentrate his efforts at home.

Earlier this month MrBlair was rebuffed when he sought a meeting with the Saudi rulers during a whistle-stop tour of the Gulf states. The Saudi leadership has so far resisted any attempts by the coalition to station troops or military hardware in the kingdom.

A Downing Street source said that the Prince of Wales was respected throughout the Muslim world and that his intervention would be gratefully received. A St James’s Palace source said: “The Prince of Wales . . . thinks everyone must do their bit to help.”

Copyright

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001