Saudi condemns US, says ‘Interference in internal affairs’

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia rejected as ‘interference’ a US Senate resolution to end American military support for a Riyadh-led war in Yemen, and another holding its crown prince responsible for the murder of critic Jamal Khashoggi.

In a statement released by the official Saudi Press Agency, the foreign ministry said, “The kingdom condemns the latest position of the US Senate that was based on unsubstantiated allegations and rejects the blatant interference in its internal affairs.”

Eventhough it was largely symbolic, on Thursday, the US Senate vote dealt a fresh warning to President Donald Trump, who has staunchly backed the Saudi regime despite global uproar over the Yemen conflict and the murder of journalist Khashoggi.

Yemen, on the other, which more broadly attacks the president’s prerogative to launch military action, 49 Democrats or their allies voted in favour, along with seven Republicans, while another three Republicans abstained.

Apparently, the Senate also approved a resolution condemning Khashoggi’s murder and calling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, responsible for it.

Meanwhile, the Saudi ministry warned that the kingdom would not tolerate any ‘disrespect’ of its rulers. The ministry added, “This position by the US Senate sends the wrong messages to all those who want to cause a rift in Saudi-US relationship.”

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