But Arab diplomats said on Tuesday that Obaid’s column reflected the view of the Saudi government, which has made clear its opposition to an American pullout from Iraq. Prince Turki said Saudi Arabia did not want Iraq to fracture along ethnic or religious lines. On Monday a group of prominent Saudi clerics called on Sunni Muslims around the world to mobilise against Shiites in Iraq. The statement called the “murder, torture and displacement of Sunnis” an “outrage”.

Saudi ambassador to US abruptly resigns, leaves

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Washington, Prince Turki al-Faisal, abruptly resigned and flew out of the United States after only 15 months in the post, Saudi sources said. A source close to Prince Turki in the Saudi capital confirmed the ambassador’s departure, first reported in the Washington Post, but said it was not clear when his resignation would be officially announced.

The Post noted Prince Turki had been increasingly rumored as a possible replacement for his brother, Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, who it said was in fragile health and had recently been in Los Angeles for surgery.

Shortly before leaving Washington, Prince Turki met Monday with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, her spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters, saying the visit had been scheduled in advance but not publicly announced.

Prince Turki has made a series of recent speeches urging Washington not to withdraw troops from Iraq.