The US committed "terrible atrocities" against Arabs after the September 11 attacks, according to Al Gore, President George W Bush's defeated rival for the White House in 2000.
Arabs had been "indiscriminately rounded up", often on minor charges, and held in "unforgiveable conditions", the former vice-president told a mainly Saudi audience at the Jeddah Economic Forum.
"Unfortunately there have been terrible abuses and it's wrong," he said. "I want you to know that it does not represent the desires or wishes or feelings of the majority of the citizens of my country."
Mr Gore said the Bush administration was playing into al-Qa'eda's hands by routinely blocking visas for Saudis but he also challenged Arabs to take a stronger stand against Iran's nuclear plans.
In other news, Vice President Cheney has invited former Vice President Gore to go quail hunting in Texas.
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