Russia Bringing Coal To Newcastle

This sounds kind of sinister, if you catch my drift. The old "bringing coal to Newcastle" giveaway.

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said on Wednesday the kingdom does not see any obstacle to cooperating with Russia on developing a nuclear energy program.

"In fact there is no obstacle to cooperate with Russia on ... nuclear energy," Prince Saud told a news conference.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday during a visit to Saudi Arabia that his country would consider helping the kingdom with a possible atomic energy program.

"On nuclear energy, there was a (Russian) contact with the kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council," he said when asked if Saudi Arabia and Russia had made any agreements.

Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest oil exporter and a key ally of the United States.

Saudi Arabia and fellow GCC members Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, said in December they would study embarking on a joint civil atomic program.

The announcement by the GCC, a loose economic and political alliance, raised concern of a regional arms race with analysts saying the Arab bloc wanted to match Iran's nuclear program.

The United States suspects Iran's nuclear energy program aims to develop weapons, a charge Tehran denies.