OMAN DENOUNCES ATTACK ON U.S. CONSULATE IN JEDDAH

UNCLAS MUSCAT 002146 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA, NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OPRC PTER SA MU SUBJECT: OMAN DENOUNCES ATTACK ON U.S. CONSULATE IN JEDDAH ¶1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement December 7 to the Oman News Agency (ONA) in reaction to the December 6 terror attack on the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah. Per Omani standard practice, the only available version of the MFA statement is that carried by ONA. Begin text: The Sultanate has condemned the terrorist act on the U.S. consulate in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which occurred yesterday, killing a number of innocent people. A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry here today denounced the criminal act and reaffirmed the Sultanate's government support and solidarity with Saudi Arabia in its efforts to eliminate terrorism and called on the international community to unite to encounter (sic) terrorist acts and eliminate them. The Sultanate extended condolences to the Saudi Government and families of the victims. (End text.) ¶2. While the terror attack was front-page news in the local Arabic and English language press on December 7 and 8, it has yet to surface in the local Internet message board "Al Sablah." BALTIMORE