Saudis condemn suicide bombing

SHOCKED and angered at an apparent suicide bombing against Muslim families during the holy month of Ramadan, ordinary Saudis said the bombing would destroy any lingering support for Muslim militants.

Bombarded by brutal television and newspaper images of carnage caused by a midnight explosion at the housing compound of Muhaya, on Riyadh's desert outskirts, many were united in condemning the second deadly attack in their capital in six months.

"What Islam is this? They are terrorists," said Hamdan Youssef, a 39-year-old businessman.

The attack came almost six months to the day after May 12 suicide bombings in Riyadh which Saudis describe as their own September 11 killed 35 people, including nine Americans.

Saudi authorities have yet to list the victims of the latest bombing, which they blamed on Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaida. Western diplomats say the blast, which devastated two rows of villas inside the compound that housed mainly Lebanese expatriates, probably killed between 20 and 30 people.

The Saudi-born militant, in an audiotape last month, warned of attacks against American interests, and Washington closed its embassy in Riyadh on Saturday. But Saturday's targets were overwhelmingly Arab and Muslim.

"We were all shocked last night. I think they lost substantial support among those who used to show some sympathy with them," said Mohsen al-Awajy, a moderate Muslim jailed for several years in the 1990s for his opposition views.

Khaled Batarfi, managing editor of al Medinah newspaper, said the militants, who seek the overthrow of House of Saud and expulsion of Westerners from the Arabian peninsula, were losing the battle for "hearts and minds", of ordinary Saudis.

"This was their main battle. In the past, they would pretend to be against Americans, Christians whoever they perceive to be the enemy. Now their enemy is the same people whose approval they seek."

Pictures, including a maimed corpse and the blood-spattered head of a wounded man, were peppered across the front pages of Saudi newspapers, fuelling popular anger.

"I think they are either brain-washed or crazy. I don't understand why they are doing this," said an executive called Abdullah, who did not want to give his full name. "Are they Muslims or non-Muslims? Islam does not support this.

"And it's worse, because Ramadan is the holy month."

Some Saudis expressed support for their government, which has waged a crackdown on militants and religious extremism since May. It had faced pressure to act since the September 11, 2001, attacks carried out by mainly Saudi hijackers.

But some blamed the failure of Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, to rein in conservative clerics over the decades for helping foster militancy in the kingdom.

"Society will bear responsibility for this," said Hussein Nasser, a 28-year-old bank employee. "We put the men of religion above fault and made them unaccountable. We gave them special privilege and this is the result."