Washington Gov., Seattle Mayor Decline to Meet Saudi Crown Prince

Local Editor

Washington state's governor and Seattle's mayor apologized to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, The Seattle News newspaper reported.

The newspaper said that MBS spent a night in Seattle, where he arrived on Friday afternoon, and left it on Saturday.

"However, Saturday morning meetings listed on the advance agenda with Washington state's governor and Seattle's mayor aren't happening - both politely declined the Saudi meeting requests, on the grounds they are busy that morning," according to The Seattle News newspaper.

The newspaper confirmed the apology of the mayor of Seattle, Jenny Durkan, for a formal meeting with the Saudi crown prince due to Saudi war crimes committed against Yemenis.

Washington state governor, Jay Inslee, left shortly before the arrival of Bin Salman to sign an agreement in the city of Yakima, Washington State, the newspaper said.

The paper noted that there were a wave of criticisms of any welcoming of MBS in the city, because of the bloody war waged by Saudi-led coalition on Yemen.

Three years ago, the Saudi government launched a military campaign against Yemen.

In that continuing war, supported by the US government, the Saudi air force has deployed its large fleet of Boeing F-15 Strike Eagles and other aircraft to hit Yemeni targets and to provide air support for allied troops.

The Saudi-led Arab military coalition has also blockaded Yemen as part of its offensive.

The outcome has been devastating to Yemen's civilian population, with a war-induced famine and a cholera epidemic as well as documented reports of airstrikes hitting targets such as hospitals and schools.

With the controversial backdrop of the Yemen conflict, local politicians did not scramble to rearrange their schedules in order to meet the crown prince.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team