Bin Laden to light up Saudi skies

(Getty Images)

Osama bin Laden is to star in fireworks displays in Saudi Arabia to mark the end of Ramadan later this week.

The Saudi-born Al Qaeda chief joins Arab singers Hayfa Wehbe and Nancy Ajram in the form of fireworks smuggled into the country in sacks of barley, AFP reported.

Tonnes of the fireworks, banned on safety grounds, have been smuggled in, according to local press. According to AFP, Al Watan newspaper said a truck full of fireworks had been brought in by a Yemeni, including ‘B-52s’ named after the strategic bomber.

“That load could have blown up a whole district” the newspaper said. It added Saudi civil defence workers had disposed of large quantities of confiscated fireworks.

Eid al-Fitr, which begins this year in Saudi on Saturday, is a feast celebrated throughout the Islamic world following the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Too Easy..
Posted by T Crowe Semler, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday 11 October 2007 at 22:00 UAE time

The Fireworks that are smuggled into the Kingdom reveal a serious security breach. God forbid, what if the fireworks were "dirty" laced with radioactive materials. The security "check-points" must be taken more seriously by those Saudi officials operating them. Too many times it appears to be "pretend" check-points just slowing down the traffic without checking the driver's ID or inspecting the vehicles. If we let our "guard-down" and become "lazy" letting the smugglers through, be prepared for problems. I am your Brother, T Crowe O'Rourke Semler

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