US waives sanctions on Saudis over religious rights
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-01 08:50

With high oil prices affecting the U.S. economy and dragging on President George W. Bush's popularity, Democrats have charged he has largely ignored Saudi Arabia's rights record for fear of causing any backlash from the oil supplier.

Prominent Saudis dismiss as politically motivated U.S. criticism of the country's strict Wahhabi brand of Islam.

In contrast to its decision on Saudi Arabia, the United States decided to sanction Eritrea by banning military exports to the Horn of Africa country, the officials said.

Vietnam, the third country added to the blacklist last year, has avoided sanctions after agreeing to improve its record, they added.

The other countries the United States considers serious violators of religious freedom are North Korea, Myanmar, Sudan, Iran and China.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, an agency established by Congress to promote religious freedom, has recommended this year that three allies should be added to the blacklist: Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

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