Saudi militants warn of attacks on Western airlines

A STATEMENT purportedly from al-Qaida militants in Saudi Arabia warned yesterday of new attacks on Western airlines, as a Saudi diplomat said the militant group was behind an attack that killed an Irish cameraman with the BBC.

"All compounds, bases and means of transport, especially Western and American airlines, will be a direct target for our coming operations in the near future," said the statement, posted on a pro-al-Qaida site on the internet.

The statement asked Muslims to keep away from Americans and other Westerners to avoid falling victim to an attack by the Islamic militant network led by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.