Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah began a state visit to Britain Oct. 30.

Before Abdullah arrived, he accused Britain of failing to act on intelligence that might have prevented the 2005 London transit bombings, touching off debate about the kingdom's response to terrorism.

Prince Charles met Abdullah on the steps of the king's plane and escorted him along a red carpet flanked by a military honor guard.

Abdullah prefaced the visit by saying Britain and other countries were not doing enough to fight terrorism.

"I believe that most countries are not taking this issue too seriously, including, unfortunately, Britain," he said through a translator. "We sent information to Britain before the terrorist attacks in 2005, but no action was taken."

The king did not specify what information Saudi Arabia provided about the July 7, 2005, attacks in which 52 commuters and four suicide bombers died. Officials, however, had previously said that the Saudis told Britain and the United States months before the bombings that they had arrested a Saudi man who confessed to fundraising for an attack on the British capital.

"The relationship we have on counterterrorism matters is very close for the obvious reason that we face a common threat," a senior Foreign Office official said on condition of anonymity. "This is clear to us and it's clear to the Saudis since 9/11."

Abdullah's comments appeared to be an attempt to distance himself from extremists and at the same time pre-empt attacks on Saudi Arabia's record of fighting terrorism, analysts said.