Saudi Arabia asks Iran to free Osama’s daughter
January 3rd, 2010 - 1:42 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Jan 3 (IANS) Saudi Arabia has asked Iran to repatriate one of the daughters of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden to the kingdom after she fled house arrest and sought refuge at its embassy in Tehran.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said Saturday his government was in talks with Iran over freeing the fugitive leader’s 17-year-old daughter Iman, the BBC reported.
Iman went to the embassy after eluding guards in Iran who have held her and five of her siblings under house arrest since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the BBC quoted Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat as saying.
The newspaper had also quoted Zaina Bin Laden, wife of bin Laden’s fourth son Omar, as saying that the dreaded terrorist’s children and his wife Khayriyah were living in a residential compound on the outskirts of Tehran.
Speaking in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, Prince Faisal said his country considered the matter to be a “humanitarian issue”.
“We are negotiating with the Iranian government on this basis,” he added.
Osama Bin Laden, accused of 9/11 and other attacks, was born into a wealthy Saudi family but was expelled from the country in 1991 because of his anti-government activities.
- Bin Laden's son in Damascus after eight years in Iran - Jan 06, 2010
- Iran says it can't confirm identity of Osama bin Laden's daughter - Dec 25, 2009
- Saudi Arabia halts Afghan mediation - Nov 07, 2010
- Son claims Osama's family 'stranded' in Iran - Jul 19, 2010
- Saudi king names new defence minister - Nov 06, 2011
- Saudi Arabia honours Indian envoy - Jul 12, 2011
- Yemen to get over $3 billion Saudi Arabian aid - May 24, 2012
- Iran, Saudi Arabia helped carry out 9/11 attacks: Book - Aug 20, 2011
- Saudi defence minister dead (Lead) - Oct 22, 2011
- Saudi wanted joint Arab-US-NATO force to destroy Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon - Dec 08, 2010
- Clinton arrives in Riyadh for talks on Iran, Israel - Feb 15, 2010
- Bin Laden's missing family found in Iran - Dec 23, 2009
- India, Saudi Arabia ink historic Riyadh Declaration - Mar 01, 2010
- Osama's death to help end terror: Saudi Arabia - May 02, 2011
- Saudi King Abdullah names Prince Naif crown prince - Oct 28, 2011
Tags: al awsat, foreign minister, fugitive leader, government activities, house arrest, humanitarian issue, invasion of afghanistan, iranian government, london jan, osama bin laden, outskirts, prince faisal, prince saud al faisal, residential compound, saud al faisal, saudi arabia, saudi capital riyadh, saudi family, talks with iran, tehran