Security cited in halting U.K. bribe case

LONDON, July 8 (UPI) -- A British official cited national security as the reason for the dropping of a corruption investigation into a major arms deal with Saudi Arabia.

Richard Alderman, director of the Serious Fraud Office, Monday told five law lords that he hadn't taken economic interests into account when he dropped his probe into bribery allegations involving the Saudi royal family.

The Times of London said the decision came after Riyadh allegedly warned the SFO that it would drop discussions on a proposal to purchase British warplanes and would cease cooperating with Britain in terrorism investigations.

Two public advocacy groups took the matter to the High Court, which ruled in April that the SFO shouldn't have halted the investigation. Alderman is seeking to overturn that order.