KUWAIT CITY, Feb. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior and Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-MubarakAl-Sabah pledged on Saturday to bolster a joint front against terrorism between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

    The newly appointed minister, who is visiting Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, told reporters that terrorism is an international phenomenon that requires coordinated cooperation to root it out,according to the Kuwait News Agency.

    In his first press remarks since the formation of a new Kuwaiti cabinet, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak praised security cooperation between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia on all aspects.

    The minister also expressed hope that the scope of coordination between the two states and their exchange of data and expertise could be broadened to best guard their stability and security.

    On threats by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to move terrorism from Iraq to neighboring counties, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak said Kuwait keeps a close watch on developments in Iraq and is ready for worst scenarios on that account.

    Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah approved the line-up of the new cabinet formed by newly-appointed Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Thursday.

    Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak is the second deputy prime minister and defense minister in the former cabinet. Enditem