Saudi authorities have detained 11 princes after they gathered at a royal palace in Riyadh in a protest against austerity measures that included suspending payment of their utility bills, Saudi media reported on Saturday.

 

Online news website sabq.org said the princes had gathered at the Qasr a-Hokm, a historic royal palace, demanding the cancellation of a royal decree that stopped state payment of water and electricity bills for royal family members.

 

"They were informed of the error of their demands, but they refused to leave Qasr al-Hokm," Sabq said, quoting unidentified sources. 

 

"A royal order was issued to the royal guards ... to intervene and they were detained and put into Al Hayer prison in preparation to put them on trial."