The Saudi Embassy in Lebanon denied on Friday that it asked its nationals that are currently present in the country to leave by the end of June.

"The report, which was published in a Lebanese newspaper, is completely false,” the embassy said in a statement.

U.S. intelligence operatives in Turkey are vetting the flow of weapons to Syrian rebels to ensure they do not fall into the hands of Al-Qaida militants, the New York Times reported Thursday.

The Times cited unnamed U.S. officials and Arab intelligence officials as saying the weapons were being paid for by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and funneled across the border by a shadowy opposition network.

Saudi authorities on Tuesday beheaded two Egyptians who kidnapped a nine-year-old girl and tortured her for years and also executed two of its citizens, state news agency SPA reported.

Mohammed bin Nafe and Jamalat bin Nafe, apparently his sister, "kidnapped a nine-year-old girl from the (Muslim) Prophet's Mosque in (the holy city of) Medina, torturing and locking her up at their residence for three years and six months," SPA reported quoting the interior ministry.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on Monday issued a royal decree naming his half-brother Prince Salman as heir to the throne following the death of crown prince Nayef.

The monarch appointed Salman "crown prince and deputy prime minister" while also keeping him on as defense minister, said the decree published by the state news agency SPA.

Saudi Arabia wants to buy 600-800 Leopard battle tanks from Germany, more than twice as many as originally envisaged, the Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported, quoting government sources.

Thus far, reports had said the Saudis wanted to purchase around 300 Leopard-2 tanks, Germany's main battle tank which is also produced under license in Spain.

Saudi Arabia on Sunday buried crown prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz during a somber ceremony in Islam's holiest city, as defense minister Prince Salman appeared poised to become the new heir apparent.

The 79-year-old Nayef died on Saturday of "cardiac problems" at his brother's residence in Geneva, a medical source in the Swiss city said.

Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz's funeral was held on Sunday with the participation of a number of Lebanese officials.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati took part in the service that was held at the Sacred Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.

Lebanese leaders mourned on Saturday the death of Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz who died after a battle with illness.

President Michel Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri expressed their condolences to Saudi King Abdullah and the Saudi people.

Information obtained by Naharnet said that King Abdullah will chair the Allegiance Council in the upcoming two days to choose the new crown prince after the death of Nayef bin Abdulaziz on Saturday in Geneva.

Reports said that prince Salman, the half-brother of the prince Nayef and who is the current defense minister, appears to be a strong candidate.

Boosted by massive fighter jet deals with Saudi Arabia and Japan, U.S. foreign military sales have shot past $50 billion in a record-breaking year, a senior U.S. official said Thursday.

Andrew Shapiro, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, underlined that the United States also hopes to boost sales with India, which is mulling a $1.4 billion deal for 22 Apache helicopters.