Saudi Arabia denounces Bahrain blasts 

(MENAFN - Arab News) The Council of Ministers yesterday denounced last week's terrorist attack in Manama killing a number of innocent people, and reiterated the Kingdom's solidarity with Bahrain.

"Saudi Arabia reaffirms its total solidarity with Bahrain and its people in confronting violence and terrorism that go against the teachings of Islam," the Cabinet said. The apparently coordinated string of five explosions in Manama came less than a week after Bahrain banned all protest gatherings in attempts to quell the deepening unrest in the kingdom. More than 55 people have been killed in Bahrain's unrest since February 2011.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, who chaired the meeting, welcomed the new Interior Minister Prince Muhammad bin Naif to the Cabinet and wished him success.

The king thanked the Almighty for the successful completion of this year's Haj and commended all government departments for the good work.

Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet congratulated King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman on the success of this year's Haj operation. Nearly four million faithful from the Kingdom and other parts of the world performed Haj in a spiritual and peaceful atmosphere without any major incident.

The Cabinet also praised the king for his message to pilgrims, in which he urged the UN to condemn the abuse of divine religions and prophets.
Khoja said the Cabinet reviewed the latest regional and global developments, most importantly the situation in Syria and the latest developments on the Palestine issue.

The Cabinet backed the agreement reached by the Syrian opposition groups in Qatar to oust the regime of Bashar Assad and set up the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces.

The Cabinet meeting commended the measures taken by the Justice Ministry to speed up judicial procedures under King Abdullah Program to Upgrade Judicial Facilities.

The Cabinet approved the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Solomon Islands and the State of Tuvalu with a representative (non-resident ambassador) and authorized the foreign minister to sign the protocols.
The Cabinet approved the customs cooperation agreement between the Kingdom and Jordan, signed in Amman on Oct. 19, 2011.

Khoja said the Cabinet approved the bylaw for private family guidance centers that would contribute to family stability. Such centers should obtain a license from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

The Cabinet appointed Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Qirnas undersecretary of the Youth Welfare Presidency for sports affairs; Salman bin Mohammed Namshan director general at the main office of Youth Welfare in Riyadh; Ibrahim bin Ahmad Al-Wazan head of Public Notary Office at the Ministry of Justice; Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Miejel director general of the Water and Electricity Minister's office; and Mohammed bin Saud Al-Khimshi director general of administrative and financial affairs at Dar Al-Ifta.