RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - U.S. ally Saudi Arabia said it was unhappy about the bombing of Afghanistan, sending the clearest signal yet that its relations with Washington are being tested by the war on terrorism.Interior Minister Prince Naif broke Saudi silence on the bombing late Sunday, telling reporters the kingdom opposed terrorism but did not approve of the U.S. response.
``We wish the United States had been able to flush out the terrorists in Afghanistan without resorting to the current action... because this is killing innocent people,'' he said.
``We are not at all happy with the situation. This in no way means we are not willing to confront terrorism,'' he said in remarks reported by the official Saudi Press Agency.
Analysts said that Prince Naif's public disapproval confirmed the 50-year-old strategic alliance between the world's largest industrial power and the world's largest oil supplier had come under stress since the air raids began a week ago.
Riyadh said early on it would not allow attacks on Afghanistan to be launched from its soil.
U.S. officials say the country is co-operating in more appropriate ways, by sharing intelligence and cracking down on funding of groups and individuals suspected of terrorist links.
U.S. troops have been based in the kingdom since U.S.-led forces evicted Iraq from Saudi Arabia's neighbor Kuwait in 1991, albeit as only a small and discreet force nowadays.
Some religious leaders in the birthplace of Islam have strong objections to their presence.