Riyadh is accelerating trials of dissidents, who fear becoming bargaining tools in a potential showdown with Biden
AFP
January 08, 2021
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia is accelerating trials of so-called dissidents, including a high-profile Saudi-American doctor, who fear becoming bargaining tools in a potential early showdown with Joe Biden s incoming administration.
The US president-elect has pledged to make the kingdom a pariah over its human rights failings after it largely got a free pass under President Donald Trump.
The trials, following a years-long crackdown on dissent, potentially put Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on a collision course with Biden, who has also vowed to suspend US arms sales to the kingdom over its catastrophic five-year war in neighbouring Yemen.
No diplomatic ties to Qatar yet, but trade, travel resuming, says UAE
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| UPDATED: 16:34, Thu, Jan 7, 2021
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The President-elect made the cold swipe about ensuring the kingdom became an outcast, as it emerged Saudi Arabia was rushing through trials to alleged dissidents with links to the US. Among these are a high-profile Saudi-American doctor, and Riyadh has become fearful that these people could become bargaining chips when Mr Biden enters the White House later this month. Mr Biden has been forthright in his opinion on Saudi Arabia, demanding the oil-rich nation clean up its appal
Gulf s surprise reconciliation masks underlying acrimony AFP 1/6/2021 AFP © BANDAR AL-JALOUD Gulf leaders met in the Saudi Arabian city of Al-Ula on Tuesday and brought a formal end to a three-and-a-half year dispute with Qatar
Qatar has been embraced by its neighbours at a landmark summit after over three years of isolation, but the hasty reconciliation did not address underlying resentments which observers say risk resurfacing.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt in June 2017 slapped a boycott on Qatar that severed air, land and sea links with the gas-rich nation over claims it backed Islamists and was too close to Iran charges Doha denied.