The Libyan-Saudi Diplomatic Rupture

On 22 December 2004, Saudi Arabia expelled the Libyan ambassador from Riyadh and withdrew its own diplomatic envoy from Tripoli. The expulsion followed Saudi accusations of a Libyan plot to assassinate Crown Prince Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Saud and other prominent members of the Saudi Government. The alleged conspiracy was first exposed in summer 2004 but the Saudis claimed that they needed half a year more to complete their investigation and officially charge Libya. However, the Saudis, though determined to lodge a strong protest and send an effective deterrent message, did not want to overreact, and they insisted that their action was a “limited measure” which did not amount to severing diplomatic relations. This “restraint” was explained by Saudi Arabia’s respect for the Libyan people and its desire not to harm their ability to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage.