The Saudi government has filed a lawsuit against importers of cigarettes from international tobacco companies, reports the Associated Press.

Saudi Health Minister Hamad al-Manie said the government wants compensation amounting to USD 34 billion (EUR 27.1 billion) for the cost of treating illnesses caused by smoking. He says the action is also part of an effort to stem smoking in the kingdom.
The suit targets the local agents rather than the international tobacco companies themselves because, al-Manie said, it is the "agents who bring the cigarettes into the country." Legal proceedings against the 13 Saudi cigarette importers began in 2007. Four court hearings have been held since, but only one agent attended one of the four hearings.
The lawsuit, which seeks one of the world's largest damage claims, is the first such action in the Arab world. (pi)