Скачать или смотреть VOICER Saudi comes to terms with last Saturday's blast

(13 Nov 2003) NB: wrong slate on tape, story correct
VOICED BY VERA FRANKL



0000 Aftermath of bombing
0007 Zoom out from damaged building
0018 Road block
0024 Police stopping cars
0030 Police checking car
0038 SOUNDBITE (English) Mohsen Al-awajy, Saudi Lawyer, Reformist and opposition activist:
"We were not surprised to hear about the blast last Saturday evening because we believe those militants have their own programme and they have increased their activities since the Saudi security force prevented them from going to Iraq and Afghanistan."
0059 Bashar Kalilay, American Palestinian survivor of the blast, walking out of hotel
0104 SOUNDBITE (English) Bashar Kalilay, American Palestinian survivor of the blast:
"The fear is there of course, but there is nothing that you can do about it. Again, who would have thought that those people can reach New York and the twin towers, so."
0118 Overhead shot Riyadh
0122 Traffic
0129 Sunset shot over city
0134 ENDS

SUGGESTED LEAD-IN:

A blast last Saturday at a housing complex in the Saudi capital Riyadh killed 17 people.

The bombing, blamed on al-Qaida, targeted ordinary Arabs and Muslims.

Many in the kingdom believe the political climate there needs to change in order to stem the rise in extremism.

VOICE-OVER:

0002
Three huge explosions last Saturday left 17 dead and scores wounded.

The housing complex where the bombing took place was home to mostly middle class workers from Arab countries.

This departure from al-Qaida's usual strategy of targeting Westerners aroused confusion across the Arab world.

0021
Security in the Saudi capital has been stepped up.

But the Saudi royals have always ruled with an iron fist.

Those opposed to royal governance say that the political climate has fostered extremism, and allowed these kind of attacks to take place.

0038
SOUNDBITE (English) Mohsen Al-awajy, Saudi Lawyer, Reformist and opposition activist:
"We were not surprised to hear about the blast last Saturday evening because we believe those militants have their own programme and they have increased their activities since the Saudi security forces prevented them from going to Iraq and Afghanistan."

0059
Bashar Kalily is an American Palestinian who survived the blast.

0104
SOUNDBITE (English) Bashar Kalilay, American Palestinian survivor of the blast:
"The fear is there of course, but there is nothing that you can do about it. Again, who would have thought that those people can reach New York and the twin towers, so."

0118
The wake of the blast has seen a new openness in the Saudi media.

And it could lead to a decline in support for the militants.

But observers say the militancy will flourish as long as the government prevents substantial democratic change.

0134 ENDS

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