Saudi Arabia arrests Shia terrorist

Riyadh, Jan 2 (IANS): Saudi Arabia's interior ministry announced Friday that a Shia Saudi national, who is on a list of 23 wanted terrorists, has been arrested for instigating unrest in the eastern part of the country.

Montadhar Ali Saleh Alsbaiti, 23, was arrested Thursday in the Shia town of Al-Awamiya, where unrest has been surging since early 2011 following protests against discrimination and demand for democratic reforms in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, Xinhua reported citing the ministry.

The interior ministry said no one was hurt during the man's capture. It said the security authorities would not hesitate to pursue the wanted and arrest them, calling at the same time on the wanted criminals to surrender themselves.

Officials also warned anyone harbouring or providing any kind of support to such criminals that they would be held responsible.

Earlier last month, Saudi Arabia announced the arrest of 135 terrorists, of whom 17 were held on charges of rioting, vandalism and attacks against security forces in Al-Awamiya.