SAUDI ARABIA: Three Saudi activists were charged yesterday with "criticising the political establishment" of the conservative kingdom at the start of a trial that has put Riyadh's vows for wide-ranging reform in the spotlight.
The three reformists - Mr Abdullah al-Hamed, Mr Matruk al-Faleh and Mr Ali al-Dumaini - have been in jail since they were rounded up in March with scores of pro-democracy protesters.
Most of these reformists have since been released.
Mr Abdurrahman Allhem, a lawyer and human rights activist who attended the opening session, said the three men were also charged with "causing instability", collecting and issuing signatures for political petitions and communicating with foreign media.
It was not clear what sentences the charges carry. The judge adjourned the trial until August 24th.
The trial appeared at odds with the cautious reform programme championed in recent months by de facto ruler Crown Prince Abdullah, who has promised more freedoms for Saudis.
Several reform activists have presented Prince Abdullah with petitions demanding speedy reforms in the Gulf state, battling a year-long wave of violence by al Qaeda-linked militants.
They have called for more political participation, turning Saudi Arabia into a constitutional monarchy, an elected parliament, an independent judiciary and equal rights for women.
The absolute monarchy - under pressure from the United States and domestic reformers to grant some popular political participation - has announced it would hold municipal elections for the first time in decades later this year.
Activists say Mr Hamed is a liberal who has been jailed four times by Saudi authorities. Mr Faleh has taken part in drafting reform petitions while Mr Dumaini is an author and poet.
The US has encouraged long-time ally Saudi Arabia to speed up change since the September 11th, 2001 attacks, which were carried out mainly by Saudis.