Tillerson says US concerned, monitoring Hariri situation
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s recent political purge raises concerns and remains unclear but does not appear to amount to mass arrests, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson told reporters on Friday.
Separately, Tillerson said there was no indication that Lebanon’s former prime minister, Saad al-Hariri, was being held in Saudi Arabia against his will but that the US was monitoring the situation.
Tillerson, who is traveling with President Donald Trump on an Asia trip, made the comments following talks with his Saudi counterpart this week.
Salman, Saudi Arabia’s future king, has tightened his grip on power through an anti-corruption purge by arresting royals, ministers and investors including billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal who is one of the kingdom’s most prominent businessmen.
Asked about the Saudi purge, Tillerson said he had spoken with Saudi Foreign Minister
WASHINGTON:
Adel al-Jubeir about the situation on Wednesday and that the recent crackdown did not yet amount to formal arrests. “Based on that conversation, it’s well intended. How disruptive it’s going to be remains to be seen,” Tillerson said, adding that the situation was “still a bit unclear.”
“It’s my understanding that they’re characterizing these as not really arrests at this point but they’re presenting people with evidence of what they think the wrongdoing is to see if there’s a willingness to want to make things right.”
“It raises a few concerns until we see more clearly how these particular individuals are dealt with,” he added. REUTERS