SAUDI ARABIA CONSIDERS THALES FOR SECURITY BID

LONDON [MENL] -- Saudi Arabia is considering awarding a Frenchdefense contractor a project to bolster the kingdom's security. French industry sources said the Paris-based Thales was expected toreceive an $8.7 billion [7 billion euro] contract for the procurement andinstallation of a surveillance system along the Saudi-Yemeni border. Theborder spans about 1,800 kilometers and has been described as the main routefor weapons andinsurgents for Al Qaida.