Saudi cleric says Iran supporting Yemeni rebels
Updated: Monday, November 16, 2009
16:20GMT—11:20AM/EST
Washington, 16 November (WashingtonTV)—Saudi Arabia’s most senior cleric on Monday accused Iran of supporting Shiite rebels in Yemen in their fight against Yemeni forces, which has now drawn in Saudi firepower.
Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul-Aziz al-Sheikh said the alleged cooperation between Iran and the rebels was one of “sin and aggression”, reports Reuters.
Al-Sheikh said that Saudi Arabia has the right to defend itself against the rebels, who attacked a Saudi patrol across the border at the start of November, prompting the intervention of Saudi warplanes and artillery.
On Sunday, 250 members of Iran’s Majlis [parliament] condemned the Saudi attacks, reports Iran’s state-funded Press TV network.
And Majlis speaker, Ali Larijani, criticized Saudi King Abdullah for allowing “the killing of innocent Muslims in the forbidden months.”
Iran has denied accusations of supporting the rebels, and has called for a political solution to the fighting, which erupted in August. The conflict first broke out in 2004.
Sources: Reuters, Press TV
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