Saudi Arabia arrested two suspected members of al-Qaida who may have been plotting against Western embassies in the Middle East, the interior ministry announced Thursday.

The two men, a Yemeni and a Chadian national, had contacts with the Yemeni branch of the terror network, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), state news agency SPA quoted ministry spokesman General Mansour al-Turki as saying.

Moscow has rejected a Saudi proposal to abandon Syria's president in return for a huge arms deal and a pledge to boost Russian influence in the Arab world, diplomats told Agence France Presse.

On July 31, President Vladimir Putin, a strong backer of Syrian leader Bashar Assad, met Saudi Arabia's influential intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan, after which both Moscow and Riyadh kept a lid on the substance of the talks.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has announced a further donation of $100 million (75 million euros) to set up a United Nations center for fighting terrorism, Saudi media reported on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia signed an agreement with the U.N. in 2011 to create the center and the oil-rich Gulf monarchy has already donated $10 million towards its launch.

Saudi Arabia's deputy defense minister has been replaced after only four months in the post by a half-brother of powerful intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan, in a royal decree.

Prince Salman bin Sultan, son of late crown prince and veteran defence minister Sultan bin Abdul Aziz who died in 2011, replaced Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed who was named deputy defense minister only in April, the official SPA agency reported late Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia's deputy defense minister has been replaced after only four months in the post by a half-brother of powerful intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan, in a royal decree.

Prince Salman bin Sultan, son of late crown prince and veteran defense minister Sultan bin Abdul Aziz who died in 2011, replaced Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed who was named deputy defense minister only in April, the official SPA agency reported late Tuesday.

A plane carrying Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to Tehran at the weekend was blocked from crossing Saudi Arabian airspace because no prior approval had been sought, the kingdom's civil aviation authorities said Tuesday.

This was the only reason the plane was turned back, the General Authority of Civil Aviation said in a statement, countering suggestions the move was linked to international arrest warrants out for Bashir.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam is planning to visit Saudi Arabia for Omra on Eid al-Fitr holiday, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Tuesday amid reports of a trip by President Michel Suleiman to Riyadh.

According to al-Liwaa, Salam would have the occasion to meet with top Saudi officials and al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-Premier Saad Hariri during his expected visit.

Norway has closed its embassies in Saudi Arabia and Jordan to the public due to threats of attacks by al-Qaida, the foreign ministry said Monday.

The Scandinavian country has also raised the security level at other diplomatic missions in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as sensitive locations such as Nairobi, the ministry said.

South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) said Monday it had won a $3.3 billion order to build a steam power plant in Saudi Arabia.

Under the deal signed on Sunday with Saudi Electricity Co., Hyundai will complete the massive facility with a production capacity of 2,640 megawatts by 2017, the company said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia denied permission for a plane carrying Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to cross its airspace on Sunday for the swearing-in of Iran's new president, Khartoum said.

The aircraft had to turn back.