RIYADH, December 1 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - King Fahd of Saudi Arabia has issued a royal decree, whereby Majlis ash-Shura or Consultative Council is granted additional powers previously held by the king himself, according to Saudi newspapers Sunday, November 30, 2003.

By virtue of the new royal decree, the Consultative Council has been granted the right to propose bills without the king’s prior consent, provided such bills are to be finally submitted to the king for approval, in contradiction with the provision of the previous article that requires the king’s approval before debating any bills.

The royal decree, issued overnight, calls for amending articles 17 and 23 of the council's charter to allow the body to propose new laws or amendments to existing laws without first receiving the king's permission.

In case of any conflict between the government and the Consultative Council regarding any such issue, the government will refer it to the Council for comment instead of submitting it to the king to take an action in this effect.

Semi-official reports said in October that polls would be held within three years to fill one-third of the 120 seats on council, and that half the members of regional councils would be elected within two years.

Until now all members of the government's advisory body have been appointed.

"The amendments will give council members more confidence and responsibilities," the council's speaker Sheikh Saleh bin Hameed was quoted as saying by the media Sunday, November 30.

Saudi officials welcomed the new decree and thought it would facilitate proposing, debating and referring new bills to the concerned bodies as soon as possible.

In statements issued by the Saudi Al-Watan newspaper Monday December 1, 2003, Secretary General of the Consultative Council Dr. Hamoud Abdel-Aziz Al-Badr said that such a decision would boost the status of the council, pointing out that the previous mechanism of the council was very slow.

The all-male council, which was set up in 1993, does not legislate under its current role, but in the past few years has passed a number of important bills on economic, social and educational matters.

Saudi officials have affirmed that such new bills have nothing to do with the bloody events witnessed by the country during previous months, pointing out that such laws come within the framework of a gradual process of political reforms.

“These amendments aim to keep up with the extensive reform policy undertaken by the government through a number of important resolutions and reflect the importance of development and reform for the interest of the state,” advisor of the head of the Consultative Council Dr. Mohamed Abdullah told the Saudi Al-Yawm newspaper on Monday December 1.

Saudi Arabia faces demands by Saudi opposition parties inside the country and abroad, to undertake political reforms. Such reforms have become a U.S. and western demand, particularly after September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S.

Another royal decree was issued in October 2003 within a series of political reform bills that provide for holding municipal elections in October 2004.