A Saudi diplomat kidnapped nearly a month ago in Yemen's south appealed to King Abdullah to fulfill the demands of al-Qaida to secure his release, according to a video posted on jihadist forums.

"I appeal to King Abdullah ... and the Saudi government to save me and release me from al-Qaida organization in return for releasing the sisters detained in (Saudi) general investigation prisons and fulfilling the remaining demands of the organization," Abdullah al-Khalidi said in the video, posted late on Friday, and published by SITE Intelligence Group.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat said on Thursday that Lebanese officials should resume the national dialogue and tackle all the lingering crises in Lebanon without any “exception.”

He told An Nahar newspaper that Saudi King Abdullah’s letter to President Michel Suleiman expresses his fear over the repercussions of the Syrian developments on Lebanon as the crisis in the neighboring country might spill over into Lebanon.

Saudi Arabia will give Yemen aid worth $3.25 billion, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told a meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday.

"To ensure Yemen's security and stability, the kingdom will provide $3.25 billion to support development projects there which will be agreed upon with the Yemeni side," he said at the opening of the Friends of Yemen meeting.

Saudi's defense ministry has signed a $3 billion deal with Britain to buy trainer jets for the kingdom's air force, SPA state news agency reported on Wednesday.

The deal also includes simulators, ground and training equipment and spare parts, SPA said, quoting a defense ministry official.

Lebanese officials welcomed on Wednesday Saudi King Abdullah’s call for national dialogue among Lebanese foes in an attempt to steer Lebanon clear of regional disputes, local newspapers reported.

Speaker Nabih Berri said that King Abdullah’s letter to President Michel Suleiman is a “direct” and “explicit” call for resumption of dialogue between Lebanese foes amid the critical situation the country is passing through.

President Michel Suleiman is holding onto his call for the National Dialogue to discuss the spread of arms inside and outside Lebanese cities, sources close to the head of state said.

The sources told As Safir daily published Wednesday that Suleiman’s call for all-party talks focuses on discussing the arms of the resistance in terms of the defense strategy and the urgent issue of the weapons used in the latest deadly gunbattles between pro- and anti-Syrian regime supporters in Beirut and the northern city of Tripoli.

Saudi King Abdullah stated on Tuesday that the kingdom is monitoring the situation in Lebanon with “deep concern” following the clashes in Tripoli, “especially since they targeted a main sect in the country.”

He said in a cable to President Michel Suleiman: “We look forward to you ending the crisis, which may spiral into sectarian strife.”

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Tuesday that there are no dangers in Lebanon that can prevent Arab nationals from visiting the country.

He said: “Lebanon is keen on the safety of the visiting nationals.”

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri on Monday noted that the kingdom “is closely following the developments” in Lebanon, adding that Riyadh would only issue a travel warning should it feel that its citizens are in possible danger.

“Should we feel that our citizens are in danger, we will take the right decision, but right now we are closely following the developments,” Asiri told reporters following talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati at the Grand Serail.

Thousands of Sunnis staged a rally in Manama on Saturday in support of a controversial proposal to unite Bahrain with neighboring Saudi Arabia, witnesses said.