Saudis asked to spare preachers

MANILA (AP) - President Fidel Ramos appealed to Saudi Arabia's king yesterday to spare two Filipinos reportedly facing execution on Christmas Day for preaching Christianity.

President Ramos has asked King Fahd Ibn Abdulaziz Al- Saud to forgive Oswaldo Magdangal and Renato Posedio, who have been jailed in Saudi Arabia for two months after allegedly trying to build a Christian church.

'I wish to make a personal appeal to Your Royal Highness to spare Oswaldo Magdangal from execution, especially on that day,' Mr Ramos said in a letter.

Saudi Arabia does not permit the open practice of any religion other than Islam and proselytising is also forbidden.