Saudi Arabia Live Blog

More on the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Damascus last evening: the Saudi foreign ministry has released a statement saying that Syrian security forces "did not take measures to stop [people from] ransacking the embassy", adding that the demonstrators stayed inside the building for a certain period before being told to leave by authorities.

"The kingdom of Saudi Arabia strongly condemns this incident and holds Syrian authorities responsible for the security and
protection of Saudi interests and citizens in Syria", the statement said.

As for the French consulate in Latakia, a French foreign ministry spokesman has said that the consulate was only an honorary one, and as such was not a full-fledged mission. He said he was unaware of having been attacked. 

The Guardian writes: This Middle East power struggle could kill off the Arab spring

"The Iran 'terror plot' drama involves four players who have much to lose from Arab self-determination. Let's hope they fail"

The drama of the Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington features four players who, whatever the substance of the allegations, are engaged in a series of proxy battles for control of their interests in the Middle East, a great game if you will.

Three of the four – Saudi Arabia, the US and Israel – are struggling to contain and deflect the tidal wave of democratic protest known as the Arab spring. While mouthing support for it, each have genuine reason to fear Arab self-determination. The fourth, Iran, sees in the same events a challenge to its stewardship of the Shias and the loss of the regional influence it was unexpectedly handed when the US invaded Iraq.

Analysts say that opinion is split in Saudi Arabia, a key ally to Yemen, on the political future of the country. While there appears to be agreement that Ali Abdullah Salah, who is still in Saudi Arabia recovering from injuries sustained in June, must leave, there is no consensus on who should succeed him.

"There's a clear difference of opinion [within the Saudi royal family] on how they want to see Yemen post-Saleh," Ghanem
Nuseibeh, a partner at Cornerstone Global consultants, told Reuters.  "There are those in the regime who are more comfortable with a more democratic Yemen ... and others who don't want that to happen."  

"It is hard in a tribal society with many parts to know who the successor regime and players are that you want to support,"
said Robert Jordan, a former US ambassador to Riyadh. "But I think the Saudis played a constructive role in offering Saleh medical treatment in Riyadh and seeing to it that he stays there [rather than return to Yemen]."

"The question of Yemen for Saudi Arabia is fundamentally not a foreign policy question, it's a national security question
with a foreign policy aspect," said Asaad al-Shamlan, a political science professor in Riyadh. "That's why there are many organs of the Saudi government interested in it."

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Sunday called on the international community to take a nuanced approach to fighting terrorism, in a statement on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

"It is our firm belief that combating terrorism requires a multi-dimensional approach and not only the use of military means to guarantee sustainable peace," the 57-nation organisation said in a statement.

It added that the OIC is committed to "combating terrorism" and called for global cultural and religious reconciliation talks to "debunk the myth of a clash of civilisations elevated by the tragic events of 9/11".

The Jeddah-based OIC also called on the international community to "act in the spirit of moderation and dialogue to eliminate all forms of hatred, intolerance and discrimination".