David Cameron attempts to woo back Saudi Arabia

David Cameron has sought to repair damaged relations with Saudi Arabia following fears that Riyadh could withdraw its ambassador from the UK.

He sent a personal message to Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz bin Saud in an effort to calm the situation and is rumoured to be planning a visit to the kingdom, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries soured after the UK cancelled a £5.9m prison contract with the Saudi kingdom earlier this month amid growing human rights concerns.

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It was an unexpected move and one which is likely to have far-reaching implications. Saudi Arabia is Britain's biggest market in the Middle East and a key military ally in the region.

The decision to withdraw from the controversial deal followed reports that Karl Andree, a 74-year-old British grandfather, was facing a public flogging for having homemade wine in his car. He has since been released and is expected to return home to his family in Britain this week.

But the diplomatic row rumbles on. Saudi Ambassador Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz penned an article in the Daily Telegraph warning of the consequences for the UK if it continued to treat the Saudis with "disrespect".

"It appears that the Saudis believe that they are being treated like a political football and had enough," a Whitehall source has since told the newspaper.

"It was only after the personal intervention of the Prime Minister that the situation has temporarily cooled but the Saudis want assurances."