(UK) - Britain's most sensitive and controversial relationship in the Middle East faces protests and boycotts during a state visit by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, just weeks after a lucrative new defence contract made clear that it was business as usual between the two countries. Prince Mohammed said: "I am offended when I see us portrayed as a barbaric country. We are not a stagnant nation." But the kingdom's image remains poor. Peter Tatchell, the Gay rights activist, said: "As well as flogging and executing Gay people, Saudi leaders are guilty of detention without trial, torture and the public beheading of women who have sex outside of marriage. Migrant workers are de facto slaves. The media is heavily censored. Trade unions, political parties and non-Muslim religions are banned. The country is a theocratic police state."
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