King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia today accused Britain of failing to act on information passed on by the Saudis which might have averted the 2005 London bombings.

The Saudi monarch, speaking ahead of a state visit to Britain, urged the UK to make a greater effort in the fight against terrorism, and that al-Qaeda continued to be a big problem for his country.

“We have sent information to Great Britain before the terrorist attacks in Britain but unfortunately no action was taken," he said, speaking to the BBC through an interpreter today. "And it may have been able to maybe avert the tragedy."

He added: "I strongly urge all countries in the world, including Great Britain, to take the matter of fighting terrorism very seriously. I believe most countries are not taking this issue too seriously including, unfortunately, Great Britain."

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The remarks replicate earlier accusations by American officials that British intelligence had been warned of a terrorist attack in crowded areas of London months before the July 7 bombings, which killed 52 people.

Saudi Arabian authroties had arrested a young Saudi man who confessed to raising money in the Gulf region for a terrorist attack, officials said. The subsequent intelligence briefing reportedly included information that the plot would be carried out by four attackers, at least some of whom would be British citizens, using explosives. No information was obtained about dates, names or locations of the attacks.

The King's comments come as he was expected to arrive in Britain this evening for a visit already mired in controversy.

A mass demonstration is planned outside the Saudi embassy in London later in the week in protest at the kingdom’s human rights record.

Saud al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, was scheduled to hold a joint press conference with the Foreign Secretary David Miliband at 10am today, but the Foreign Office announced Mr Miliband was pulling out due to the adopton of his second child. Mr al-Faisal then pulled out himself as Mr Miliband's replacement, Kim Howells, was considered too junior to meet him according to diplomatic protocol.

The King arrives tonight, when he will be met by the Prince of Wales. He is due to meet the Queen tomorrow morning and on Wednesdeay will meet Gordon Brown and David Cameron to duscuss arms, the Middle East peace conference and cooperation in the war against terror. He will return home on Thursday.

Vince Cable, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, yesterday announced that he would be boycotting a visit in protest at the corruption scandal over the infamous al-Yamamah arms deal.

Mr Cable’s decision follows the controversy which erupted last year when Tony Blair halted a long-running Serious Fraud Office inquiry into the £40 billion al-Yamamah deal signed by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.

Mr Blair argued that Saudi security co-operation in the fight against international terrorism could be jeopardised if the investigation continued.

Critics claimed that he was more concerned that Britain could lose out on a fresh £20 billion contract to supply the Saudis with 72 Eurofighters.

The Conservatives branded Mr Cable’s boycott as “juvenile gesture politics”, while the Foreign Office said only that it was a matter for the Liberal Democrat acting leader.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said that the decision to invite King Abdullah now reflected the “long-standing friendship” between the two nations.

She said that British and Saudi interests were “intertwined and inseparable” across a range of issues from counter-terrorism to ensuring stability in the Middle East.

King Abdullah faces further controversy later in the week. John McDonnell, a left wing Labour MP, said that protesters would be staging a mass demonstration outside the Saudi Embassy on Wednesday.

“The British people will be aghast at the Government entertaining on a state visit one of the most prominent anti-democratic and human rights- abusing leaders in the world,” he said.

“Why is it that in the same breath the Prime Minister condemns the lack of democracy in Burma and the abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe but remains silent when it comes to the Saudi dictatorship?”

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