Saudi Prince Sues Los Angeles Over Delayed Mansion Permits→

Prince Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdul-Aziz al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s deputy foreign minister, sued the city of Los Angeles over claims it illegally refuses to issue building permits for a mansion because of pressure from neighbors.

Abdul-Aziz’s company, Tower Lane Properties Inc., filed a complaint Feb. 5 in state court in Los Angeles, seeking a court order for the city to find it in compliance with permit conditions and demanding $25 million in damages. It’s the third case the prince has brought against the city over the project.

This is not the first time a Saudi prince makes headlines in the US property market. Few years ago Prince Bandar bin Sultan, former ambassador to the US and the current chief of intelligence, listed his Hala Ranch in Aspen, Colorado, for sale for $135 million. It was called the most expensive home in America. The ranch was sold last year to billionaire John Paulson who paid $49 million for the property.

AP Miseported Saudi Official Statement About Gulf Security→

Ten days after Saudi Arabia described the reports on statements by its deputy foreign minister about Gulf security as “fabrication,” the Associated Press issued a correction today saying they have “reported erroneously that Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah said in a speech that Gulf states should quash any Arab Spring-inspired unrest.”

Instability Cannot Be Tolerated, Senior Saudi Official Says→

AP reports from the IISS Regional Security Summit in Bahrain:

Earlier, a senior Saudi official said Gulf Arab states must quash any Arab Spring-inspired unrest or risk threats to their leadership across the oil-rich region.

The comments by Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, the Saudi deputy foreign minister, echoed calls by Gulf authorities to widen crackdowns on perceived opposition such as rights activists and Islamist factions.

His remarks also appeared aimed at justifying the intervention last year in Bahrain by a Saudi-led Gulf military force.

Prince Abdulaziz says Gulf states “cannot tolerate instability” that could lead to challenges to the Western-allied leaders from Kuwait to Oman that have so far ridden out the Arab Spring.

There is nothing new in these statements, but it is good to have them on the record by a senior official.

UPDATE: The Saudi government has denied that Prince Abdulaziz gave these statements.