BBC Monitoring

The Saudi Press Agency, SPA, in English on 1 October issued a note, withdrawing the referent item on a statement issued by the Saudi Grand Mufti warning Saudi youths against travelling abroad for jihad. No reason was given for pulling the item. The note reads: "Editors note: Please ignore item no 13, slugged 'Grand Mufti warns Youths from travelling abroad for jihad', datelined Riyadh."

As of the time the note was filed, no similar note has been issued to withdraw SPA's Arabic version of the statement. Meanwhile, Saudi TV1, Al-Ikhbariyah channel, and the Saudi press have all reported the mufti's statement in similar terms to SPA.

Source: SPA news agency website, Riyadh, 2 Oct 07