in the wake of the deadly Jeddah flood, saying officials should be elected to overcome corrupt mismanagement by appointed princes and bureaucrats.

The recently formed Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association praised King Abdullah for launching an investigation into the November 25 flash flood that killed at least 120 people.

The floods also caused between 500 million and a billion dollars worth of damage, by some estimates.

But using uncommonly bold language, the group said that political corruption by appointees was behind the disaster, and predicted the investigation would not resolve problems.

"The Jeddah flood disaster... has shown that political corruption has resulted in the tragic genocide of innocent residents," said a statement from the group.

"Corrupt behaviours have become the general norm of royal family members; they occupy top government positions, compete to rob public funds and accumulate illegitimate wealth."

The group praised King Abdullah's demand for an investigation and of those responsible to be punished, issued several days after the full scope of the flood became clear.

"We appreciate the war you wage against those who embezzle public resources, and consequently waste the nation's resources and immerse our country in a deep backwardness," the statement added.

But the dissident group's statement also warned the king that the committee he had set up to investigate the matter would bring those responsible to justice.

"The common denominator between most of corruption practices is the existence of princes, who provide bandits with logistic support and necessary protections."

The held by members of the royal family should be limited and provincial governors and parliamentary representatives elected, the group argued.

All officials in the Saudi absolute monarchy are appointed, and most governors come from the royal family.

On November 25, uncommonly heavy rainfall sparked a flash flood in the kingdom's second largest city that submerged homes and roadways, drowning 120 people and leaving another 40 people unaccounted for.

The disaster provoked unprecedented outrage, with Jeddah citizens calling on the Internet for the public officials who had not kept their promises to build adequate drainage in the Red Sea city to be sacked.

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