7/7 'could have been stopped' King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has accused Britain of failing to act on information which might have averted the 2005 London bombings.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has accused Britain of failing toact on information which might have averted the 2005 Londonbombings.

The information was passed on by Saudis, he claimed.

In an interview ahead of a state visit to the UK, the Saudimonarch said the fight against terrorism needed much more effort bycountries such as Britain.

He also said al Qaida continued to be a big problem for hiscountry.

"We have sent information to Great Britain before the terroristattacks in Britain but unfortunately no action was taken," he said,speaking through an interpreter.

"And it may have been able to maybe avert the tragedy."

His remarks came as he was expected to arrive in Britain today fora state visit.

Liberal Democrat acting leader Vince Cable has taken the highlyunusual step of announcing he would be boycotting the visit which,he said, should not be taking place.

A mass demonstration is planned outside the Saudi embassy inLondon later in the week in protest at the kingdom's human rightsrecord.

Mr Cable said he was boycotting the visit - which beginsformally tomorrow - in protest at the corruption scandal over theinfamous Al Yamamah arms deal.

In a letter to the Saudi ambassador, he said: "I have introducedthree debates in Parliament this year expressing serious concernsover the Al Yamamah contract and the corruption allegedly involved.

"I have, in my arguments, also been very critical of members ofthe Saudi royal family and the Saudi record on human rights,including its maltreatment of British citizens."