SAUDI ARABIA

AFP: Saudis Now Deny Plans
To Acquire Nukes

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- Saudi Arabia overnight strongly denied a report in a British newspaper that it was considering acquiring nuclear weapons.

"Reports that Saudi Arabia is considering acquiring nuclear weapons are baseless and totally false," the Saudi embassy in Washington said in a statement.

The Guardian, a left-wing British daily, reported overnight that Saudi Arabia has embarked on a strategic review that includes considering whether to acquire nuclear weapons. It said the move came in response to political tensions in the Middle East.