The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

A LEADING Saudi editor has repudiated a lurid article in his newspaper claiming that Jews drain the blood of Muslims and Christians to mix it with holiday pastries on one of the religious feast of Purim.

In an article published last week, Umayma al-Jalahma, a teacher at King Faisal University, claimed that "Jewish vampires" torment their victims by placing them in a barrel filled with needles.

The crude lie in a newspaper regarded as the mouthpiece of the ruling family is an acute embarrassment to the Saudi authorities at a time when they are promoting a new Middle East peace plan, to be approved next week by an Arab League summit.

"What has been mentioned by this writer is wrong. It neither reflects the opinion of Al-Riyadh newspaper nor the Saudi government.

We have full respect for all religions," said Turki al-Sudairi, editor-in-chief of Al-Riyadh daily. He took the unusual step of denouncing the article in an editorial, saying he had been out of the country when it was published.

He also said he had ended the contract with the offending "freelance" author. The article recycles the ancient Blood Libel against Jews which held that each Passover, Jews killed Gentiles to mix their blood with dough for unleavened bread.