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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Philip Hammond arrives in Saudi Arabia for key visit | Philip Hammond arrives in Saudi Arabia for key visit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has arrived for a visit to Saudi Arabia. | Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has arrived for a visit to Saudi Arabia. |
| It comes as the country's relationship with the UK comes under increasing scrutiny. | It comes as the country's relationship with the UK comes under increasing scrutiny. |
| Earlier in the month, the UK cancelled a controversial £5.9m deal to provide "training needs analysis" for Saudi prison service staff. | Earlier in the month, the UK cancelled a controversial £5.9m deal to provide "training needs analysis" for Saudi prison service staff. |
| Last week, the Saudi ambassador to the UK warned there could be serious repercussions from what he called an "alarming change" in the UK's attitude. | Last week, the Saudi ambassador to the UK warned there could be serious repercussions from what he called an "alarming change" in the UK's attitude. |
| Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz said Saudi Arabia would "not be lectured to by anyone". | Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz said Saudi Arabia would "not be lectured to by anyone". |
| 'Ruffled feathers' | 'Ruffled feathers' |
| Saudi Arabia has long been accused of human rights abuses, and has come under pressure from the UK over its treatment of both expats and Saudi nationals who have fallen foul of the country's Islamic laws. | Saudi Arabia has long been accused of human rights abuses, and has come under pressure from the UK over its treatment of both expats and Saudi nationals who have fallen foul of the country's Islamic laws. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said Mr Hammond's visit was intended to "smooth ruffled feathers" because Saudi Arabia is an "enormously important" partner for the UK in terms of trade, intelligence and defence. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said Mr Hammond's visit was intended to "smooth ruffled feathers" because Saudi Arabia is an "enormously important" partner for the UK in terms of trade, intelligence and defence. |
| But the country was also a controversial partner, he said, not least because its "human rights record is pretty awful". | But the country was also a controversial partner, he said, not least because its "human rights record is pretty awful". |
| Controversial cases involving Britons in Saudi Arabia include that of Karl Andree, 74, who was jailed for possessing alcohol. He was also sentenced to 360 lashes - which his family said could kill him - but Saudi officials have said this punishment will not be carried out. | |
| David Cameron has written a letter requesting Mr Andree's release. | |
| Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also spoken to Mr Cameron about the case of Saudi national Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr who was arrested when he was 17 in 2011 for taking part in an anti-government protest and now faces the death penalty. |