Saudi king announces benefits

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah announced a number of benefits to Saudi Arabia worth billions of riyals in front of his return on Wednesday from three months abroad for health treatment, state television said.

Ads that include funding to offset the high inflation, and to help young unemployed people and students studying abroad have been made as popular protests against poverty, corruption and repression hit many countries in the region.

Measures do not include any political reforms in the absolute monarchy, such as municipal elections, as required by the Liberals and opposition groups. UK does not have an elected parliament and does not tolerate dissent public.

Abdullah, it is believed that about 87, went to the U.S. in November to treat a herniated disc that caused the accumulation of blood around the spine. He was vacationing in Morocco in the last four weeks after the operation in New York.

During the absence of the king, his brother, Crown Prince Sultan said. Nevertheless, doubts remain over health Sultan, because he was abroad most of the last two years in case of illness.

Analysts do not expect a riot, as in Egypt or Tunisia, with the kingdom sits on more than $ 400 billion of petrodollars, but they say that the Government must address social factors such as high youth unemployment and extensive housing problems.

The state will pay assistance for unemployed young people, and tuition fees for study abroad, while the abandonment of some loans, state television said.