Saudis' new king moves to relieve tension with US

KING Abdullah, Saudi Arabia's octogenarian new monarch, has used his first interview since being enthroned to reach out to the US and bolster his reformist credentials.

Speaking to Barbara Walters of ABC television, he said he was working hard to ease high oil prices that were causing "tremendous" damage to other countries and vowed to crush al-Qaeda and its "work of the devil".

It was regarded as a canny public relations performance by the new leader of one of the world's most socially conservative countries who assumed power following the death of King Fahd in August.

Ties between Riyadh and Washington, long-term strategic allies, were badly strained by the 11 September attacks when it emerged that 15 of the 19 suicide hijackers were Saudis.

Saudi Arabia has suffered no significant terrorist attack itself since December and most of the leading militants loyal to Osama bin Laden in the kingdom have been killed or captured.

The king told Walters al-Qaeda was "madness and evil". He said Saudi Arabia "will fight the terrorists, and those who support them or condone their actions, for ten, 20 or 30 years if we have to, until we eliminate this scourge."

Defending his country against charges that the way Islam is taught in its schools increases militancy, he said: "For those who level these charges against us, I say provide us with the evidence that this is happening and we will deal with it." He also pointed out that any Saudi charities thought to providing money to terrorists had been closed down.

On the acquisition of nuclear weapons - over which the UN is currently involved in a diplomatic showdown with Iran - he said: "The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, like other countries in the region, rejects the acquisition of nuclear weapons by anyone, especially nuclear weapons in the Middle East region."

Questioned over oil prices, King Abdullah said Saudi Arabia is ready to make more efforts in order to control their rise, noting that the country increased its production to more than ten million barrels daily because it considers that the rocketing prices benefited Saudi Arabia financially, but inflicted heavy damage in other countries.

The 82-year-old was enthroned in early August but had effectively run the country as crown prince for a decade, establishing a reputation as a cautious reformer who relied on dialogue and consensus to bring change. He made clear he had a difficult balancing act when Walters bluntly asked why as king he could not simply issue a decree allowing women to drive, a highly sensitive topic in Saudi Arabia.

"I believe the day will come when women drive," he said. "In fact, if you look at the areas in Saudi Arabia, the deserts and in the rural areas, you will find that women do drive."

Driving licences for women "will require patience. In time, I believe it will be possible".