Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Al-Qaida Claims Responsibility for Attack on Saudi Oil Facility
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=111DDE5:3919ACA Officials say
suicide bombers tried to storm Abqaiq facility Friday, but did not
make it past outer gates





Saudis gather outside gates of Abqaiq oil facility as an ambulance
rushes in, Feb. 24, 2006A message posted on an al-Qaida terror web
site claims responsibility for Friday's attempt to blow up the world's
largest oil refinery, located in eastern Saudi Arabia.

The al-Qaida message -- which has not been authenticated -- calls the
attack a success, and says bombers penetrated the security perimeter
of the oil and gas refinery.

Saudi authorities said the attack was foiled when guards opened fire
on two attack vehicles, causing them to explode. Two security officers
and two attackers were reported killed.

The Saudi oil minister says the explosion did not affect operations at
the plant, which handles two-thirds of the Kingdom's oil output.

Oil prices jumped more than two dollars a barrel on news of the blast
in Saudi Arabia, which is home to one-quarter of the world's proven
oil reserves

 

Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AFP.


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