Saudi lawsuit against international tobacco companies postponed

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A Saudi court has postponed the hearing of the first lawsuit by Saudi health authorities against two international tobacco companies until October 31, a spokesman for Ministry of Health said in a statement on Wednesday.

    Representatives of the companies - the names of which have not been disclosed - were not present during the hearing held Tuesday at the Riyadh Higher Court, Khalid bin Mohammed Morghalani said.

   The Saudi Ministry of Health is seeking 10 billion Saudi riyals (2.7 billion dollars) in compensation to be used for the treatment of smoke-related illnesses as well as another 500 million riyals to be paid annually.

    "The ministry intends to compile a new list to be submitted in the next court hearing which will include other tobacco companies," the Arab News newspaper quoted a senior health ministry official as saying.

   Saudi Arabia is the world's fourth biggest tobacco importer. Saudis smoke about 15 billion cigarettes worth 1.5 billion dollars every year.

   According to the World Health Organisation, one out of every 10 Saudis smokes, while figures from the Anti-Smoking Society shows that around 20,000 Saudis die annually of smoking-related diseases.

   In Saudi Arabia, smoking is prohibited in the holy city of Mecca and several public places in other cities.

   The United States is the leading tobacco exporter to Saudi Arabia. Tobacco products are also imported from other countries like Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Indonesia. dpa ma bve