Riyadh Warns Citizens about 'Fake' Information after Wikileaks Release Secret Documents
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Tens of thousands of secret documents that give an insight into the workings of the Saudi Arabian state have been published by Wikileaks, and the nation's Foreign Ministry has responded by urging citizens not to share what they call 'fake' information.
Wikileaks published the Saudi cables on Friday, and have already released over 60,000 documents. Further batches of thousands of documents will be released over the coming weeks. Wikileaks claims to have over half a million Saudi documents ready for release.
They paint an interesting picture of the authoritarian and extravagant government of the country, which is still an absolute monarchy ruled by the House of Saud.
Some of the documents that have been authenticated by the Associated Press show an interest in undermining Iranian interests. One memo apparently sent from the Iranian embassy in Tehran mentions the "frustration of the Iranian citizen and his strong desire for regime change."
The memo also suggests "hosting opposition figures overseas, coordinating with them and encouraging them to use galleries to show pictures of torture carried by the Iranian regime against the people."
Other memos are even more inflammatory. One, which shows the Saudi emblem of a palm tree and two crossed swords above the words 'Top Secret', claims that Persian Gulf states were willing to pay $10 billion to secure the release of deposed Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak.
Another page marked as top secret alleges that Iranian fighter jets bombed South Sudanese forces during a 2012 standoff over the oil-rich area of Heglig, during a confrontation between Sudan and the newly independent nation of South Sudan, Independent reported.
Less internationally important but much more glamorous is the 2009 invoice for an unpaid limousine bill racked up Princes Maha Al Ibrahim, who allegedly left Geneva after failing to pay the limousine company $1.4 million (£882,000).