SAUDI ARABIA Militant surrenders after amnesty offer

Security efforts have increased to catch those who don't turn themselves in.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- A wanted militant turned himself in to Saudi diplomats in Syria in response to a royal amnesty offer that expires soon, Saudi newspapers reported today.
Ibrahim al-Sadeq al-Qaidy had fought alongside Islamic extremists in Afghanistan and Bosnia, but had more recently been in hiding in Syria, the newspapers reported. It was not clear today what charges he faced and whether he was back in his homeland or was at the Saudi Embassy in Damascus.
Saudi and Syrian officials were not immediately available to comment today.
After a series of suicide bombings, gunbattles and kidnappings attributed to Al-Qaida members or sympathizers, King Fahd issued an amnesty offer, saying his government would not seek the death penalty against militants who turned themselves in. At the same time, security forces have stepped up efforts to capture those who don't give up.
Al-Qaidy was the fourth to respond. The most prominent of the four, Khaled bin Ouda bin Mohammed al-Harby, returned home Tuesday after surrendering in Iran. Al-Harby was a confidant of Al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden, a Saudi-born dissident who portrays the United States as the enemy of Islam and the Saudi royal family as too close to America.
Granted nationality
Al-Watan reported today that authorities had given al-Harby's wife Saudi nationality -- her original nationality was unclear. The unidentified woman was also given a one-time payment of 20,000 riyals -- equivalent to $5,300 -- and promised monthly payments of 3,000 riyals, or $800, apparently to cover her living expenses, the paper reported.
She had appeared on state-run television dressed head-to-toe in black as she arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday with her son and wheelchair-bound husband. Al-Harby, reportedly disabled in both legs while fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan, was hospitalized in Riyadh, Al-Watan reported.
Under King Fahd's amnesty offer, militants involved in attacks who turn themselves in will still face trial but the state will not seek their execution if convicted. Those who have surrendered have reported being treated well and at least one has been left in his family's custody until summoned for investigation.
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