SAUDI ARABIA: DEATH ROW CONVICT ESCAPES

A 25-year-old Saudi prisoner who was on death row at the general prison in the southern city of Abha after he was convicted of murder has escaped, local Arabic daily Al-Madinah reported.
Spokesman of the Directorate of Prisons Col. Ayoub bin Nahait said security forces in the region were put on alert searching for the escapee. He said the prisoner was sentenced to death in a murder case.
According to the spokesman, the prisoner used a sharp tool to cut the iron bars of the window of his cell.
He said a security committee of officials was established to investigate the case and fix responsibility. "Anyone found helping the convict escape or messing with prison rules will be severely punished," he warned.