Saudi Crown Prince Postpones UK Visit amid Rights Groups’ Opposition

According to the Middle East Eye, officials in Riyadh are concerned over possible protests and unflattering media coverage of the controversial crown prince.
 
The planned three-day visit of the hawkish royal, who is the chief architect of the ongoing Saudi-led aggression on Yemen, was due to go ahead this month, but the visit has been pushed back to 7 March after officials expressed unease over negative media coverage and the prospects of protests over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and role in the ongoing Yemen aggression.
 
Bin Salman has not left Saudi Arabia since the start of the anti-corruption purge on 4 November, reportedly over fears of internal disorder in his absence, and his visit to London will be part of an extended trip that is expected to see him visit Paris and Washington.
 
On Saturday, protesters have gathered outside Saudi regime's embassy in London to condemn Britain's weapon sales to the oil-rich kingdom.
 
The demonstration was organized by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT). The campaigners expressed their outrage over UK's continuing arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which had been leading a coalition engaged in a brutal aggression against Yemen since 2015. The conflict has already claimed lives of more than 14,000, mostly civilians especially women and children, and resulted a dire humanitarian situation in the country.
 
When late Saudi king Abdullah Al Saud visited the UK in 2007 there were widespread protests and a state dinner was boycotted by opposition politics.