VOL. XXXIX

No. 40

1 July 1996

The Political Scene

A petrol tanker packed with explosives devastated an accommodation block used by Americans stationed at al-Khobar air force base in Saudi Arabia on the night of 25 June. Nineteen Americans were killed and more than 200 people were injured. The American Secretary of State, Mr. Warren Christopher, who was ending a Middle East tour, flew to Saudi Arabia the day after the bombing. During talks in Israel Mr. Christopher had failed to secure...