Obama thanks Saudi for "critical role" in foiling bomb plot

US President Barack Obama on Saturday thanked Saudi Arabia for its "critical role" in helping foil a parcel bomb plot against the United States.

Obama called Saudi King Abdullah to discuss the terrorist plot that was disrupted Friday on a tip-off from the kingdom, expressing his "strong appreciation for the critical role" played by Saudi counterterrorism officials in averting this attempted attack and for the "deep and enduring relationship" between the two countries, the White House said.

Two explosives-filled parcels from Yemen, bound for synagogues in Chicago, were intercepted respectively on cargo planes in Dubai and at Britain's East Midlands Airport. Obama said initial tests on two packages confirmed they "apparently contain explosive material," and investigators had discovered a "credible terrorist threat" against the United States.

The attempt came four days ahead of US congressional mid-term elections. In his speech Friday at the White House, Obama accused al-Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula, the terrorist group based in Yemen, of continuing to plan attacks against "our homeland, our citizens, and our friends and allies," vowing to boost cooperation with the Yemeni government to disrupt the plotting and destroy the al-Qaeda affiliate.

A Yemeni security official said initial investigation showed al- Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was behind the botched parcel bomb plot.

British Home Secretary Theresa May confirmed Saturday that the device was viable and could have exploded. She said: "The target may have been an aircraft and had it detonated the aircraft could have been brought down."

Earlier Saturday, Obama spoke to British Prime Minister David Cameron about the plot and they agreed to work together to " prevent and disrupt" future efforts to attack citizens in both countries.

Meanwhile, Obama's top advisor for homeland security and counter-terrorism John Brennan pressed Yemen for "close counterterrorism cooperation" with the United States.

Brennan called Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh on Saturday and underscored the "importance of close counterterrorism cooperation, including the need to work together on the ongoing investigation into the events over the past few days." He also emphasized that "the United States stands ready to assist the Yemeni government and the Yemeni people in their fight against al- Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula."