The Saudi Frankenstein panic

The kingdom signed an agreement with the United Nations in 2011 to create the centre, and the government has already given US$10m towards its launch.

"I announce a donation from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia of US$100 million to support this centre and work for its activation under the umbrella of the United Nations," King Abdullah said in a joint message with Crown Prince Salman marking Eid Al Fitr reported by official news agency SPA.

"We should understand that terrorism will not disappear within a limited period. So we have to be prepared for a long fight with terrorism. Whenever we try to tighten the noose it could become increasingly aggressive and violent. But we have strong faith in God that it would be defeated," the Arab News, published in Jeddah, quoted the message as saying.

In their joint message, King Abdullah and Prince Salman warned against the political motives of terrorist ideologies and against those who distort the meaning of religious texts to suit "their vested interests." Those who misinterpret the texts tarnish the image of Islam and its values and principles, the message said, according to the newspaper.

Meanwhile, the Reuters news agency has reported that the Saudi government has offered Russia economic incentives - including a major arms deal and a pledge not to challenge Russian gas sales - if Moscow scales back support for the Syrian government of President Bashar Al Assad.

The proposed deal between two of the leading power brokers in Syria's civil war was set out by Saudi intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last week, they said.