沙特阿拉伯已开始新建一支逾35000人的特种安全部队，以保护其石油设施免受可能发生的袭击。

Saudi Arabia has begun setting up a new 35,000-strong specialised security force to protect its oil facilities from potential attacks.

此举凸显出基地组织(al-Qaeda)袭击海湾地区石油设施的威胁，以及伊朗与美国之间的紧张局势不断升级的局面，沙特对其石油设施安全的担忧不断加剧。

The move underlines the kingdom's growing concern about the security of its installations in the face of threats from al-Qaeda to attack oil facilities in the Gulf, and rising tensions between Iran and the US.

以前曾有人担心，美国和伊朗之间的军事对抗可能导致伊朗针对海湾地区的美国利益采取报复行动，其中包括美国在沙特的利益。

There have been fears that military confrontation between Iran and Washington could provoke Tehran to retaliate against US interests across the Gulf, including in Saudi Arabia.

上述安全部队的招募工作数月前开始。一位沙特战略事务顾问昨日表示，目前已有逾5,000人正接受训练，学习使用新型监控设备和危机管理知识，该项目是由美国防务集团洛克希德-马丁(Lockheed Martin)管理的。总部位于尼科西亚的中东经济调查(MEES)表示，上述培训是一个美国政府合同的一部分。MESS首先披露洛克希德-马丁涉足了上述安全部队的培训工作。

Recruitment for the security force began several months ago. It already has more than 5,000 personnel, who are being trained in the use of new surveillance equipment and crisis management under a programme managed by US defence group Lockheed Martin, a Saudi strategic affairs adviser said yesterday. The training is part of a US government contract, according to the Nicosia-based Middle East Economic Survey, which first revealed that Lockheed was involved in training the force.

昨日记者未能立即联系到洛克希德以获取置评。

Lockheed was not immediately available to comment yesterday.

上述顾问补充称，估计沙特将在新装备和部队上投入约40亿-50亿美元。沙特是全球最大的石油输出国，拥有全球25%的已探明石油储量。

The kingdom, which is the world's biggest oil exporter and has 25 per cent of the world's proven oil reserves, is investing an estimated $4bn-$5bn in the new equipment and the force, the adviser added.

沙特已拥有逾75000人的陆军，18000人的空军，15500人的海军以及一支16000人的防空军。

Saudi Arabia already has a 75,000-strong army, an air force of 18,000, a navy of 15,500 and an air defence force of 16,000.

美国政府7月份宣布了一笔拟议中的交易，估计价值为200亿美元，合同方是海湾合作委员会(Gulf Cooperation Council)的6个国家，其中包括沙特，以提升该地区的安全。

Washington announced a proposed arms deal in July, estimated to be worth $20bn, with the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Saudi Arabia, to boost security in the region.

自2003年发生一系列针对西方居住区的袭击以来，沙特加大了对伊斯兰武装分子的打击力度。

Saudi Arabia has stepped up its crackdown against Islamist militants since a series of attacks against western residential compounds in 2003.