RIYADH, 28 November — Separate identity cards for women, which the government is expected to start issuing after Ramadan, will not become mandatory, according to Prince Ahmad, deputy minister of interior.

Prince Ahmad was speaking to reporters after opening the third security awareness exhibition in Riyadh on Monday.

During the press conference, the deputy minister responded to questions on a wide range of issues. He clarified that "the separate identity cards for women will not become compulsory" and will be optional.

According to press reports, a two-year-old government decision to issue separate IDs to women will be implemented immediately after Ramadan.

Civil identification offices in various cities have allocated separate sections to deal with women who apply for IDs.

Answering a question on centers that treat female drug addicts, the prince denied that female drug addiction was "a phenomenon" in the Kingdom. However, he qualified that statement by adding: "Every rule has exceptions."

The specialist Al-Amal hospitals and other health care centers are already treating such cases, he confirmed. He emphasized the importance of parental guidance in keeping the young away from drug abuse.

The prince expressed his satisfaction regarding the security situation in the Kingdom, which he described as "stable" despite a spate of bomb blasts in Alkhobar and Riyadh recently.

The prince described those incidents as isolated and minor when compared to the violent acts regularly reported as having taken place in other countries."The nation is like a family and its subjects protect both themselves and their country," the prince added.

When asked about the reported detention of some Saudis fighting with the Taleban in Afghanistan, and whether the Kingdom intends to take steps to get them released, the minister said: "The Kingdom has not received information from any official or credible agency that there are Saudi prisoners there."