RIYADH
(Reuters) - Saudi authorities have detained 11 princes after they gathered at a
royal palace in Riyadh in a rare protest against austerity measures that
included
suspending payment of their utility bills, Saudi media reported on
Saturday.
Saudi
officials did not respond immediately to a request for a comment on the report.
Saudi
Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, has introduced reforms that included
cutting subsidies, introducing value added tax (VAT) and cutting perks to royal
family members to try to cope with a drop in crude prices that has caused a
budget deficit estimated at 195 billion riyals in 2018.
Online news
website sabq.org said the princes had gathered at the Qasr a-Hokm, a historic
royal palace, demanding the cancellation of a royal decree that stopped state
payment of water and electricity bills for royal family members.
They were
also demanding compensation for a death sentence issued against a relative,
Sabq.org said.
“They were
informed of the error of their demands, but they refused to leave Qasr
al-Hokm,” Sabq said, quoting unidentified sources. “A royal order was issued to
the royal guards ... to intervene and they were detained and put into al-Hayer
prison in preparation to put them on trial.”
It gave no
details on the identity of the princes but said the leader of the group had
been identified by the initials S.A.S.
“Everybody
is equal before the law and anyone who does not implement regulations and
instructions will be held accountable, no matter who he is,” the website added.
Arabic-language
Okaz daily carried a similar report. Reuters could not immediately verify the
report.
Saudi Arabia
last year rounded up dozens of royal family members, current and former senior
officials in a crackdown on corruption that has also strengthened the power of
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
They were
held at the five-star Ritz Hotel in the capital Riyadh while government
officials negotiated financial settlements.
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