RIYADH, 29 October — The Kingdom’s Civil Defense chief announced yesterday that results of laboratory tests for anthrax spores on suspicious mail containing white powder that had been posted from abroad were negative.

“Laboratory tests proved that they are free from the bacteria,” Maj. Gen. Saad Al-Tuwaijeri told Saudi Press Agency.

He added that the government had taken all precautionary measures to deal with any emergency situation.

“At present, there is nothing to worry about,” he said.

The Kingdom has formed a committee to combat possible anthrax attacks as new cases of bio-terror hit the Kingdom.

Headed by a Health Ministry undersecretary, the committee will coordinate with relevant government departments to draw up a contingency plan to tackle the killer disease, Al-Watan daily said, quoting government sources.

Al-Tuwaijeri confirmed that individuals and institutions in some Saudi cities had received letters containing white powder suspected to be anthrax.

The Kingdom, which has examined 27 parcels containing suspicious white powder, has been hit with two more anthrax scare cases in the south and east of the country.

Al-Tuwaijeri advised Saudis and expatriates to inform the nearest Civil Defense office, the Health Ministry or the local police if they receive any suspicious mail. He warned that touching or smelling the powder might lead to contamination.

Employees working at an aluminum factory in Dammam were evacuated on Saturday after receiving four envelopes containing suspicious white powder.

An employee of the Aluminum Products Co. (ALUMCO) said one of the letters contained a note saying that “anthrax spores are being sent to you.”

A Filipino secretary who opened the envelopes was rushed to hospital for examination for possible anthrax infection. He was later discharged after tests revealed a negative result.

In another case, authorities in the southern Asir province conducted urgent anthrax tests on a health employee who received an envelope containing white powder.

The employee found a note in the envelope reading: “Congratulations on your new guest: anthrax.”

Governor of Asir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said tests on the powder were again negative.

Health Minister Osama Shubokshi said that 27 parcels containing suspicious white powder have been examined during the past days, adding that all the initial tests had turned out to be negative.

Saudi Arabia was hit with an anthrax scare for the first time last Wednesday when three parcels containing a suspicious white powder arrived in the capital and in Jeddah.

The Kingdom is the third Gulf country after Bahrain and Kuwait to be hit by the worldwide anthrax scare, following transmission of the disease through suspect mail that has killed three people in the United States since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

At least 28 people have tested positive for anthrax exposure.