Saudis may let press cover terror trials

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia may allow press coverage of terrorism trials for the first time, the country's justice minister said Monday.

Mohammad Al Essa made the statement at a government conference on justice and the media in Riyadh, Gulf News reported.

Other sources, however, tell the news service the Interior and Justice ministries are debating how much access to allow. Some officials call for open proceedings while others want the media only to be briefed at the end of each session.

Essa said his ministry has "close and strong" relations with the media and welcomed cooperation. He added that "suspects have all judicial rights that grant them fair trials."

Earlier, Justice Ministry spokesman Abdullah al-Saadan said a special court is reviewing the cases of accused al-Qaida terrorists. Last year, the court issued preliminary verdicts on 442 cases involving 765 defendants, and 325 verdicts were appealed, he said.