Saudis, Kuwaitis assure RI workers

SURAKARTA, Central Java: The governments of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait guaranteed the safety of more than 40,000 Indonesians working in the two countries should the United States attack Iraq, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea said on Wednesday.

"Yesterday (Tuesday) the two countries' ambassadors promised to protect the safety of Indonesian workers there," said Jacob in Surakarta, Central Java on Wednesday.

Jacob said the safety assurance given by the two countries would include the establishment of shelters if needed.

The government had appointed former TNI chief Admiral Widodo AS and Jacob, assisted by representatives from the Iraqi embassy to evacuate Indonesian workers from Middle Eastern countries should a war break out.

The government has already started evacuating Indonesians who live in Iraq. --JP