LONDON — Demonstrators shouted at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah and Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday at the start of a visit overshadowed by criticism of the kingdom’s human-rights practices and Abdullah’s comments that Britain has failed to do enough to stop terrorism.
The queen welcomed Abdullah, who reviewed an honor guard before taking a carriage with her to Buckingham Palace, as human-rights advocates waved banners condemning the British government’s “hypocrisy” and saying, “You can’t do this in Riyadh.”
Before arriving Monday for the first state visit by a Saudi king in two decades, Abdullah accused Britain of failing to act on intelligence that might have prevented the 2005 London transit bombings – comments analysts said appeared to be an attempt to distance himself from the extremists and at the same time pre-empt attacks on Saudi Arabia’s record of fighting terrorism.
British officials denied the king’s claims, saying they received information from Saudi officials warning about another apparent plot that bore no similarities to the London transit bombings, which killed 52 commuters and four suicide bombers.
Abdullah, 82, who is also prime minister, is expected to meet today with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and David Cameron, leader of the main opposition Conservative Party.
However, some lawmakers have pledged to boycott the king’s visit, citing Saudi Arabia’s poor human-rights record, especially concerns over torture, public executions and discrimination against women.
