The British government has approved arms export licenses to Saudi Arabia worth nearly \u00a34 billion over the past four years despite concerns over the Arab country\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s poor human rights record.\n<\/p>\n
According to an analysis by the watchdog Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), Britain approved licenses worth \u00a3112 million for 209 items to Saudi Arabia over the last year.\n<\/p>\n
The items included components for military aircraft and combat vehicles, crowd control ammunition grenades and components for electronic warfare, The Guardian reported.\n<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia, which is accused of brutal crackdown on peaceful anti-regime protests, is considered as Britain’s largest trading partner in the Middle East, with bilateral trade worth more than \u00a315 billion every year.\n<\/p>\n
Since February 2011, protesters have held demonstrations on an almost regular basis in Saudi Arabia, calling for the release of all political prisoners, freedom of expression and assembly, and an end to widespread discrimination.\n<\/p>\n
The demonstrations, however, have turned into protests against the repressive Al Saud regime.\n<\/p>\n
According to Human Rights Watch, the Saudi regime \u00c5\u201croutinely represses expression critical of the government.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
SSM\/MOS\/HE<\/p>\n