国际英语新闻:Saudi Arabia lists terrorist groups

RIYADH, March 7, (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia on Friday listed the Muslim Brotherhood of ousted former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and two Syrian jihadist groups, Al-Nusra Front and Daash, as terrorist organizations, local media reported.

It also slated the Shiite Houthi group fighting in north Yemen and a Hezbollah group in the Hijaz as terrorist groups.

The country's Interior Ministry said that the list will be regularly updated to tackle terrorism inside the kingdom.

TV reports said that Saudi Arabia also ordered nationals fighting abroad, including those in Syria, to return within 15 days, or face legal punishments.

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud issued an order last month to imprison Saudis between three to 20 years who are fighting abroad or belonging to a "terrorist group."

The order also covers members of local, regional and international "extreme religious and terrorist groups." Supporting such organizations or offering financial assistances will also incur imprisonment. Convicted military personnel in particular will be sentenced to up to 30 years.

The order will come into force as of March 9.