VOICER Saudi comes to terms with last Saturday's blast скачать в хорошем качестве

VOICER Saudi comes to terms with last Saturday's blast

(13 Nov 2003) NB: wrong slate on tape, story correct VOICED BY VERA FRANKL 0000 Aftermath of bombing 0007 Zoom out from damaged building 0018 Road block 0024 Police stopping cars 0030 Police checking car 0038 SOUNDBITE (English) Mohsen Al-awajy, Saudi Lawyer, Reformist and opposition activist: "We were not surprised to hear about the blast last Saturday evening because we believe those militants have their own programme and they have increased their activities since the Saudi security force prevented them from going to Iraq and Afghanistan." 0059 Bashar Kalilay, American Palestinian survivor of the blast, walking out of hotel 0104 SOUNDBITE (English) Bashar Kalilay, American Palestinian survivor of the blast: "The fear is there of course, but there is nothing that you can do about it. Again, who would have thought that those people can reach New York and the twin towers, so." 0118 Overhead shot Riyadh 0122 Traffic 0129 Sunset shot over city 0134 ENDS SUGGESTED LEAD-IN: A blast last Saturday at a housing complex in the Saudi capital Riyadh killed 17 people. The bombing, blamed on al-Qaida, targeted ordinary Arabs and Muslims. Many in the kingdom believe the political climate there needs to change in order to stem the rise in extremism. VOICE-OVER: 0002 Three huge explosions last Saturday left 17 dead and scores wounded. The housing complex where the bombing took place was home to mostly middle class workers from Arab countries. This departure from al-Qaida's usual strategy of targeting Westerners aroused confusion across the Arab world. 0021 Security in the Saudi capital has been stepped up. But the Saudi royals have always ruled with an iron fist. Those opposed to royal governance say that the political climate has fostered extremism, and allowed these kind of attacks to take place. 0038 SOUNDBITE (English) Mohsen Al-awajy, Saudi Lawyer, Reformist and opposition activist: "We were not surprised to hear about the blast last Saturday evening because we believe those militants have their own programme and they have increased their activities since the Saudi security forces prevented them from going to Iraq and Afghanistan." 0059 Bashar Kalily is an American Palestinian who survived the blast. 0104 SOUNDBITE (English) Bashar Kalilay, American Palestinian survivor of the blast: "The fear is there of course, but there is nothing that you can do about it. Again, who would have thought that those people can reach New York and the twin towers, so." 0118 The wake of the blast has seen a new openness in the Saudi media. And it could lead to a decline in support for the militants. But observers say the militancy will flourish as long as the government prevents substantial democratic change. 0134 ENDS Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...