Saudi urges Iran to let go bin Laden's daughter

Saudi Arabia urged Iran to allow a daughter of Osama bin Laden, Iman bin Laden, who took refuge in the Saudi embassy in Tehran, to leave the country, according to media reports Monday.

"We consider this issue to be a strictly humanitarian one, and we are in negotiations with the Iranian government to deal with it on this level and to leave open the option of departure for (Iman)," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said.

"We do not wish to enter into political issues in relation to this case because I do not want to complicate matters and potentially delay Iman's departure from Tehran," he added.

Imam bin Laden, 17, recently fled from a family compound near Tehran to the embassy in hopes of leaving Iran.

Al-Faisal declined to give any details of the talks with Tehran, saying it could complicate the issue.

Iran has said that Iman could leave the country if her identity can be confirmed.

"The Saudi embassy has not yet made any efforts to confirm the identity of the person claimed to be bin Laden's daughter," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told official news agency IRNA.

Source: Xinhuanet/Agencies