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A TV grab from Saudi news channel shows surrendered suspect Fawaz al-Fawzan upon his arrival in Jeddah (AFP)
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Additional
Reporting By Fawaz Mohammad, IOL Correspondent
RIYADH,
July 23 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Hours before the
month-long royal amnesty expired, three of Saudi Arabia's most-wanted
"terrorist suspects", including Al-Qaeda leader in the
country, Saleh Mohammed Al-Oufi, were reportedly willing to negotiate
their surrender, according to a mediator.
Meanwhile,
Saudi sources told CNN International Friday, July 23, that more than
20 suspected militants turned themselves in during the final 24 hours
before the month-long amnesty expired at midnight Thursday.
According
to Al-Jazeera, 12 out of the 26 suspects included in the list of the
most wanted militants are still on the run after turning their back to
the royal amnesty.
"Mediators
confirmed that Al-Oufi is willing to negotiate and they are optimistic
about the results", Sheikh Safar Al-Hawali, who mediated between
Saudi authorities and terror suspects, told Agence France-Presse
(AFP).
"Negotiations
with the other two suspects who are also on the 26 most-wanted list
started over a month ago. They prefer to remain anonymous",
Al-Hawali said Thursday, July 22.
Al-Oufi
was reportedly involved in the latest shoot-out between security
forces and militants in Riyadh, which took place Tuesday night.
Two
suspects were killed in raids by police that also led to the discovery
in a refrigerator of the head of US
hostage Paul Johnson, kidnapped last month by suspected
Al-Qaeda members.
The
amnesty offer expired Thursday night, and the Interior Ministry
confirmed earlier that the deadline will not be extended.
Last
Chance
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Al-Oufi
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In
statements carried out by the Saudi news agency, an Interior Ministry
official has asserted that the "Ministry wishes to draw the
attention that the generous amnesty issued by King Fahd was only hours
away".
But
the official added that there were still ongoing negotiations with
some suspects in remote areas, pointing out that it was enough for
them to express their readiness to surrender before the expiry of the
deadline, then complete the paperwork later.
Al-Hawali,
for his part, declared that the matter still needs some time to
"convince them", adding every and each one who declares
willingness to negotiate will be included in the amnesty deals.
"They
will be included in the amnesty, regardless the time negotiations will
take."
Many
Saudi scholars have urged the runaway militants to consider laying
down arms, turning a clean slate and making use of the
amnesty.
One
of the most prominent Saudi scholar has urged militants, in statements
Monday, July 19, "to turn themselves in and make use of the
two-month amnesty," warning against "mob means in facing the
challenges countering Muslims.
Sheikh
Abdel-Rahman Al-Sudeis, imam of the Holy Mosque of Makkah, was
repeating the call he has been launching since the amnesty started.
"To
all of those involved in violence and criminal acts, you should take
up the chance and exploit the amnesty initiative."
The
Saudi government announced the amnesty Tuesday, June 29, during which
citizens could surrender unlicensed weapons without penalty.
Former
Al-Qaeda leader in Saudi Arabia, Abdul
Aziz Al-Muqrin and three henchmen, were shot dead by on
June 18 after posting website photos of the American hostage they
beheaded.
Saudi
Arabia has witnessed a wave of anti-foreigners bombings and shootings
since May last year.
On
Monday, May 12, 2003, more than 90 people died,
including
up to 12 Americans, in car bombings blamed on Al-Qaeda
that razed three expatriate compounds in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
