& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

An Eye-witness Account

Saudis feel safe in Riyadh

From Guo Xiaoyong of Xinhua
DAMASCUS. Feb 12 : What about the situation in ibyudh. the capital of Saudi Arabia, three weeks after the Gulf war broke out on January 17 ? A friend In Riyadh offered me some clues when 1 rang him Friday from Damascus before my departure for Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
After two-week tension caused by the outbreak of war, situation in Riyadh has recently calmed down and people there feel safer now than at the beginning of the war.
The 'Scud' missile, which reportedly has the capability of carrying chemical weapons, had frightened the city. Iraq has so far fired more than 10 Scud' missiles with conventional warheads targeting Riyadh. But most of them were Intercepted by US 'Patriot' anti-aircraft missiles. Official statistics showed that only three Scud' missiles caused casualllics. leaving over 60 Injuries and one death.
There was an obvious Increase of traffic In the street Most of shops did business usual except shortening scr-vicc lime. Markel supply was so abundant that you can buy whatever daily consumer goods that you desired.
Citizens showed a universal concern over the development of the Gulf war and this led lo the selling out of short-wave radios.
People once rushed lo buy food, drinks, and especially water when a large quantity of oil was spilled in the Gulf rc-em. Situation changed much Iler now. Prices rose an bit. but not high enough to cause any great four and Instability.
Allhough some of Ihe rich, non-jobholcrs and most of foreigners had gone abroad with fortunes and families, the pw-ernment urged public offices lo keep running.
Every citizen had a gas mask provided by the government in case of chemical weapon attacks by Iraq. Doors and window* of building* were usually sealed with Micky tapes. Only after day* of visiting many shop* could my
frl-iM finally buy a of precious" tapes.
Measures had been taken to reinforce security. More police patrolled In the streets and all cars to or from Riyadh must be examined. For example, my friend was repeatedly stopped and examined in a recent business tour to Jedda, a coastal city in western Saudi Arabia.
There were three flights from Riyadh to Jedda which became a transfer city for many international airliners flying to Europe or some Arab countries. However, many passengers from other cities were detained there due to Irregular flights and difficulties to reserve a scat.
My friend said that. Saudis showed a widespread support lo their government's policies to defend their motherland and to free Kuwait and that they sincerely hope an earlier end of the Gulf war.