Saudi Arabia jails 6 for security offences

A Saudi Arabian court has jailed six people for up to six years for security offences. The Specialised Criminal Court sentenced the six and also banned them from traveling for fixed periods after their release. In February, King Abdullah decreed prison terms of three to 20 years for traveling abroad to fight and of five to 30 years for giving moral or material support to banned groups that the government has designated as extremist. Saudi officials have said there are more than 2,500 Saudis now outside the country who are believed to be working with militant organisations in different states and regions. Saudi authorities have detained over 11,000 people since a wave of attacks from 2003-2006 against government and foreign targets in the kingdom staged by al Qaeda militants who had fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to a news agency.