Powell Says Saudi Attack Bears Al Qaeda Earmarks

Amman (Reuters): Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday the Saudi bombings overnight bore all the hallmarks of the al Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.

"Once again it reminds us that terrorism is a global phenomenon... the United States will not be deterred from pursing the interests of peace around the world," Powell told a news conference in the Jordanian capital.

He said he did not know if the attack was linked to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

"The suspects are clear though. It has the earmarks of al Qaeda and I think it is just part of al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations' willingness to kill innocent people in order to push forward a criminal agenda, a terrorists' agenda that very often has no meaning."

Suicide bombers injured more than 40 Americans and other nationals and probably killed others in devastating attacks on Westerners' compounds in Riyadh on Monday night.