GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- Saudi Arabia said Monday that more than 100 of its citizens are in U.S. custody at Guantanamo Bay, making Saudis by far the largest group of terrorist suspects detained on this remote U.S. naval base.
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef urged the United States to turn over the Saudi detainees for interrogation at home. In Washington, President Bush said "we'll make a decision on a case-by-case basis as to whether they go back to Saudi Arabia or not." The president did not comment on the number of Saudis being held.
Saudi Arabia, a close U.S. ally in the Middle East, has come under criticism in the United States from some who say the ruling royal family has done too little to crack down on terrorists and extremists.
Fifteen of the 19 hijackers that carried out the Sept. 11 terrorist attack were Saudis although Saudi officials insist no Saudi involvement has been proven.
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