WORLD THE BATTALION 5A Thursday April 22, 2004 ar bombing kills at least four in audi capital, al-Qaida implicated By Abdullah Al-Shihri THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) A suicide attacker bombed a [ecurity police building in the jiaudi capital Wednesday, killing least four people and wound ing 148. The attack had the hall mark of an al-Qaida operation, Ifficials said. The explosion, heard three hiiles away, shattered the glass jacades of nearby buildings and united several fires. Smoke bil lowed from the seven-story ieneral Security building, k'here workers issue drivers ficense renewals and do other Idministrative tasks. The headquarters of the Saudi Security Forces used to be in the [niilding. Some security forces work in part of the building, [Saudi official said, speaking on (ondition of anonymity. The bombing happened about p.m., a time when staff would |ave been leaving their offices. A woman who lives nearby, bnan Batteesha, said that after jie explosion, “We heard wails Ind cries, then saw our neighbors pining down the stairs.” She lushed out with her two children. “The fronts of the buildings [round us were damaged. The |ir conditioners were mangled, [nd there was smoke every where,” she said. The Interior Ministry said he assailant tried to drive his lehicle into the General [ecurity building. “The driver exploded the lai ' 100 feet from the head- x \ W v.v> X Deadly bombing in capital city A suicide car bomb blasted the General Security building in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Thursday, killing 4 people, wounding 148 others. The building houses traffic headquarters and some security officials. Diplomatic district Driver exploded bomb 100 feet from the gate General Security buildinc SAFARAT NASSIRIYAH 2 mi 2 km SOURCE: Saudi Interior Ministry quarters’ gate, the ministry said in a terse statement. Five other vehicles were apprehended with explosives, the Saudi official said. No Americans were hurt in the bombing, said U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Carol Kalin. Half an hour after the attack. Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Richard Armitage met with Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal at the Foreign Ministry. Crown Prince Abdullah and Interior Minister Prince Nayef vis ited the wounded in the hospital. “I am sorry that those prirpi- nals are Muslims,” Nayef told reporters. He said Saudis should not cooperate or sympathize with militants “because those who do will be considered criminals.” “The terrorists are not target ing foreigners; they are targeting the nation,” Nayef said. The General Security service has been heavily involved in the campaign against Islamic mili- AP tants that followed the suicide attacks in May and November 2003 in Riyadh. Those attacks, also vehicle bombs, killed 51 people includ ing the assailants. They were blamed on al-Qaida, which car ried out the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. A U.S. counterterrorism offi cial, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attack has the hallmark of Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network and appears to be related to the ter rorist group. Al-Qaida, the offi cial noted, has previously used car bombs in Riyadh. The Saudi official agreed that Wednesday’s attack fit al- Qaida’s pattern. The attack came days after the United States ordered the departure of nonessential U.S. government employees and family members from Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh issued an advisory warn ing of “credible indications of terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests in Saudi Arabia.” Last month, an Internet mes sage purportedly from al-Qaida threatened Saudi security offi cers, saying that to attack them “in their homes, or workplace, is a very easy matter.” Saudi police said last week end that they seized three booby- trapped Sport Utility Vehicles loaded with more than four tons of explosives. The vehicles had apparently been abandoned by militants involved in a shootout with security forces. There were conflicting accounts on the death toll from Wednesday’s attack. The Interior Ministry said four were killed: two police offi cers, an adult and an 11-year-old Syrian girl. But the ministry’s statement did not include the sui cide bomber, whose death was reported to The Associated Press by a security official speaking on condition of anonymity. Officials from the three hospi tals that admitted casualties said at least nine people were killed. The Interior Ministry said 148 people were wounded, three critically, according to the offi cial Saudi Press Agency. The casualty tolls could rise as rescue workers were still going through the rubble late Wednesday. Most of the casual ties at King Faisal Specialist Hospital were police, but there were also four children, said hos pital spokesman Fahd al-Shaar. NEWS IN BRIEF Pentagon: Iraq war running over budget, [aces $4 billion shortfall WASHINGTON (AP) — Increased violence in Iraq is pushing the cost of fie war over budget, possibly by as much as $4 billion by late summer, Jetop U.S. military, officer said Wednesday. And billions more will be reeded for the rest of the year. (Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the ncent decision to extend the stay of some 20,000 troops will cost rough- I) $700 million more over three months. The White House is keeping men the possibility it will seek additional funds before the end of this ection year. The war is costing an estimated $4.7 billion a month, officials said, lefense officials are studying their current budget, which runs through spt. 30, to determine whether some money can be moved from pur- ciase programs or other Pentagon accounts, Myers said. Lawmakers expect to have a defense bill in place by the time the new Jidgetyear begins Oct. 1. But the version President Bush proposed had i money for U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nevertheless, leg- jlators say the Pentagon could use money from that bill until extra Joney for the war is provided. (White House officials have already said they would propose a separate bill (ter this fall’s elections — costing up to $50 billion — to pay for the two wars. Support in Congress growing for lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada WASHINGTON (AP) - Support for legalizing lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada is growing, in .Congress amid an election-year clamor.from states,’lawmakers'and the elderly. •' . The White House and Republican congressional leaders remain opposed, saying there is no way to ensure safety. Nonetheless, proponents contend that public frustration with rising drug prices and growing defiance of a federal ban on prescription imports will force action before the November elections. The latest legislation to allow Americans to fill their prescriptions in Canada was introduced Wednesday by a diverse group of Republican and Democratic senators. It would eventually allow drugs to be imported from 20 industrial ized countries, mainly Europe. Several cities and states facing budget crises already have turned to Canada to buy prescription drugs for workers or made it easier for residents to hook up with Canadian Internet pharmacies. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed in a recent AP poll said the gov ernment should make it easier to buy cheaper drugs from Canada or other countries. 313 S 846 THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY COLLEGE APPRECIATION NIGHT! .75 Mixed Drinks! g> *1.50 Longnecks 1.50 You Call - [ £ It Drinks J <> Everyone FREE all night! Doors open at 9pm TEXAS COUNTRY FRIDAYS all Texas Country & Dance Music all night! } .75 Mixed Drinks I E *1.50 Longnecks *1.50 You Call-lt Drinks Everyone 21 & up FREE till 11pm. All Aggie Rings FREE all night! Doors open at 9:00 pm LIVE HONMROM for the One Amu Benefit *1.50 Mixed Drinks'! J. *1.50 Longnecks j ; Doors open at 9pm Coining Soon: Tracy Lawrence - Friday, April 30 Check out our website at www.bcsclubs.com! NAMED ONE OF BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION’S HIPPEST NOOKS S CRANNIES 216 N. 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