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Saudi Arabia takes in bin Laden family on "humanitarian" grounds

Arab World Materials 28 April 2012 14:35 (UTC +04:00)
Saudi authorities have allowed the widows and children of former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden into the country on humanitarian grounds, the Asharq Al Awsat newspaper reported Saturday.

Saudi authorities have allowed the widows and children of former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden into the country on humanitarian grounds, the Asharq Al Awsat newspaper reported Saturday.

"The Saudi approach to them was purely humanitarian after it became clear that none of his widows or children were involved in his activities," the newspaper quoted an unnamed Saudi official as saying.

Bin Laden's three widows, nine children and two grandchildren arrived Friday aboard a special flight after being deported from Pakistan, DPA reported.

His widows, two Saudis and one Yemeni, along with two daughters had been sentenced to brief prison terms and deportation for entering and staying in Pakistan illegally.

Their sentence ended Tuesday, but their departure was delayed while an administrative issue was being resolved and amid news of Riyadh's reluctance to accept them.

The family was detained by Pakistani forces after bin Laden was killed by US forces on May 2 in Abbottabad, 61 kilometres north-east of the capital Islamabad.

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