Saudi militants watching Westerners

RIYADH (Reuters) - The U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia says that "known terrorist operatives" have been
making note of areas often visited by Westerners in the kingdom and urged Americans to be more vigilant
about their security.

"Recent information has come to the embassy's attention that known terrorist operatives in Saudi Arabia
have reference material identifying popular trails and campsites in Saudi Arabia often used by Westerners,"
the embassy said in an advisory posted on its Web site on Monday.

"It is unknown at this time if this information is linked to any ongoing operational planning by these
terrorists," it added without giving further details.

Saudi Arabia has intensified a crackdown on Muslim militants following suicide bombings in May in the
capital Riyadh which killed 35 people, including nine Americans.

Since the bombings, there have been several bloody clashes between security forces and militants in the
country and more than 200 people have been arrested.

The Gulf Arab state, birthplace of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, is under intense U.S. pressure to
destroy al Qaeda cells.

Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said last week authorities had arrested more than 500 "suspected
terrorists" since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, which were carried out mostly by
Saudi hijackers.

Reuters