Britain 'agreed in secret' to expel Saudis during £40bn arms talks

By Ewen MacAskill and Rob Evans

09/29/05 "The Guardian" -- -- Britain has already agreed to expel two Saudi dissidents during secret negotiations on proposed arms purchases by Riyadh worth up to £40bn, a Saudi government source has claimed.
The source confirmed that the Saudi government raised the issue of the two men, Saad al-Faqih and Mohammed al-Masari, during discussions with Tony Blair in Riyadh on July 2. He said the Saudi government told Mr Blair that Mr Faqih was the country's "top priority" in its relations with Britain. "The [British] security services say they have no evidence. We have provided information and are upset they have not looked at our findings," the source said. He added that the Saudi government wanted Mr Faqih to be deported to Saudi Arabia or another country.

Downing Street made no attempt yesterday to dispute the Guardian's disclosure that Saudi Arabia has asked for three favours from Tony Blair and defence secretary John Reid, who have been to Riyadh trying to sell BAE Systems' Typhoon fighter planes. The Saudis want the London-based dissidents expelled, British Airways to resume flights to Riyadh, and a major corruption investigation into BAE and a Saudi prince to be dropped.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "We never discuss commercial issues."

Mr Faqih was last year accused by the US government of providing support to al-Qaida, although he says that he has only ever engaged in non-violent political protests against the Saudi regime.

It emerged yesterday that Mr Reid held private talks with Prince Naif, the interior minister responsible for the secret police, during his sales trip in July.

Four Britons who were falsely jailed and tortured in Saudi Arabia have accused Prince Naif of being responsible. His office issued statements falsely claiming the westerners had committed bombings which turned out to be the work of al-Qaida. The men are now seeking to sue Saudi secret police in the British courts.

Yesterday, one of the Britons, Bill Sampson, said the failure of the British government to fight vigorously for their release now made sense. "The British government was more concerned to maintain BAE's contracts with the Saudi Arabians than to protect British citizens," he said.

He said Prince Naif had offered the release of the Britons in return for the expulsion of Mr Faqih. "He used us as a bargaining chip." He added: "It is clear that Faqih is non-violent and the most popular dissident opposing the Saudi regime."

BAE last night declined to comment on the negotiations.

Last night the MoD confirmed that it was providing Saudi Arabia with information on the Typhoon.

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005