Kiwis unaccounted for in Riyadh

By LOUISA CLEAVE and NZPA

Dozens of New Zealanders living in the Saudi capital where bombs exploded yesterday had not been accounted for last night because they were not registered with the New Zealand Embassy.

The embassy knew of about 450 people living in Riyadh, but that represented only 60 to 70 per cent of New Zealanders living there, ambassador Jim Howell said.

The rest had not informed officials, he said. "Maybe they see it as some sort of official oversight of their activities, which it is absolutely not. It is intended solely for this sort of situation."

Mr Howell said the embassy had established that no New Zealanders on its register were hurt in the late-night explosions, but was continuing to check the nationality of people in hospitals.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said three New Zealanders registered with the embassy were living in the Al Hamra compound, one of those hit by the suicide bombers, but were unhurt.

None was registered as living in the other compounds attacked.

Mr Goff said people unable to contact relatives they believed may have been living in the compounds should contact the consular division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) in Wellington.

Mr Howell did not have much more information about the explosions, including any possible involvement by al Qaeda.

"There is no tradition in this country of providing public information publicly so the embassy has not yet found any agencies able to give information about what has happened," he said.

Most Kiwis working in Saudi Arabia were nurses, some were teachers, "and after that they would be pretty well all in professional employment and the list is wide".

New Zealanders were yesterday advised to defer all non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia.

The ministry said New Zealanders living in Saudi Arabia should be security conscious, and avoid crowded or landmark places, and places where Westerners gathered.

"We reiterate our advice that all New Zealanders in Saudi Arabia should have already registered with the NZ Embassy, and should inform it of personal circumstances, including departure details."

The embassy had sent a consular letter to all registered New Zealanders this month, alerting them to United States advice that terrorists might be planning attacks against US interests in the Middle East.

Travel advice:
*Mfat warns all non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia should be deferred.
* NZers in Saudi Arabia should be security conscious, and avoid crowded or landmark places, and places where Westerners gather.
* The Mfat phone number for people wanting to find out about relatives is (04)