ENTRY BAN CONFUSION

FOR A WHOLE DAY confusion reigned throughout the world's airlines as the Saudi Arabian government issued a ban on alien entry to the Kingdom. On 19 November every Saudi Embassy's visa department was instructed not to issue visitor visas until further notification from the government. Rumours abounded and the consensus was that there were internal problems within the Kingdom. Officials suggested that, firstly the suspension would last until after the Islamic conference; second that the restrictions could continue until well into January of next year; third that the ban was only meant to include those passengers with pilgrim visas to visit the holy city of Mecca, where the Islamic summit was to be held; and last that there had been an administrative error by the government and that no such ban had been issued at all.