Saudi denial

SAUDI Arabia has denied accusations in Bob Woodward’s latest book that it made a secret agreement with the White House to lower petrol prices before elections.

“The allegation that the kingdom is manipulating the price of oil for political purposes or to affect elections is erroneous and has no basis in fact,” said a statement issued in Riyadh by top Saudi foreign policy adviser Adel al-Jubeir.

While al-Jubeir did not mention Woodward’s Plan of Attack, he was clearly referring to the book, which was released earlier this month.

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said: “If it is true that gas supplies and prices in America are tied to the American election, tied to a secret White House deal,that is outrageous and unacceptable to the American people.”