Saudi Arabia detains 11 princes, says local media

The National -- Saudi authorities have detained 11 princes after they gathered at a royal palace in Riyadh in a rare protest against austerity measures that included suspending payment of their utility bills, Saudi media reported on Saturday.

Saudi officials did not respond immediately to a request for a comment on the report.

Saudi Arabia has introduced reforms that include cutting subsidies, introducing value added tax (VAT) and cutting perks to royal family members to try to cope with a drop in crude prices that has caused a budget deficit estimated at 195 billion riyals in 2018.

The online news website sabq.org said the princes had gathered at Qasr Al Hokm, a historic royal palace, demanding the cancellation of a royal decree that stopped state payment of water and electricity bills for royal family members.

They were also demanding compensation for a death sentence issued against a relative, Sabq.org said.

"They were informed of the error of their demands, but they refused to leave Qasr Al Hokm," Sabq said, quoting unidentified sources. "A royal order was issued to the royal guards … to intervene and they were detained and put into Al Hayer prison in preparation to put them on trial."

It gave no details on the identity of the princes but said the leader of the group had been identified by the initials SAS.

"Everybody is equal before the law and anyone who does not implement regulations and instructions will be held accountable, no matter who he is," the website added.

The Arabic-language daily newspaper Okaz carried a similar report.

Last year, Saudi Arabia rounded up dozens of royal family members, and current and former senior officials in a crackdown on corruption. They were held at the Ritz Hotel in the capital, Riyadh, while government officials negotiated financial settlements.