Riyadh, Oct 25, SPA -- Randy Keningham, a member of the US House of Representatives from California State, has cautioned the United States against relinquishing a friendly country like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At a testimony before a Select Standing Committee concerned with intelligence affairs at the House of Representatives on October 4, 2004, Keningham reiterated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia constitutes "a dear friend for the US." He noted that persons to whom he spoke from members of the Saudi Cabinet and Shoura (consultative) council were taken by surprise when they came to know that most of hijackers of planes on Sept 11, 2001 were Saudis. 'These hijackers don't necessarily represent the Saudis who have shown support to the US and who have reiterated their keenness on maintaining friendly relations with it', he elaborated. Keningham said Osama bin Laden does not only target the US, but he also targets the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he is keen on undermining Saudi-American relations. 'For this reason Bin Laden used Saudis to carry out terror attacks on September 11', he said, adding that Bin Laden is working to topple the Saudi regime which has excommunicated him', he said. Refuting allegations which hold the Saudi educational system responsible of terrorism, Keningham said before Sept 11 there were about 20,000 Saudi students in the US and they were positively contributing to the development of the American economy and adding to it about $1.2 billion annually. 'Don't forget the fact that 75 percent of members of the Saudi Cabinet were graduated from American schools and universities, and they are keen on maintaining friendly relations with Washington', he added. Keningham said 75 percent of the members of the Saudi Shoura do support the US, but it is feared that the Saudis will start to send their sons for education to other countries like Australia, New Zealand and England if they feel that their sons are harassed in the US. 'Such a development will have an adverse impact on the Saudi-US relations', he noted. Keningham pointed out that the Saudi officials had confirmed to him that strict measures had been taken in their country to prevent financing terrorism from Saudi money. 'The Kingdom has taken firm and strict measures against donations for charitable institutions, and at the same time has been cooperating with the US, the Interpol and the British Intelligence in monitoring money laundering, charitable donations and exchange of information', he concluded.--SPA1515 Local Time 1215 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/213248