Harvard police Lt. Lawrence J. Murphy, the officer in charge of protecting the prince, was within 10 feet of Aziz at the time of the threat, Gerstein said. Murphy took no action against the Saudi, and instead helped him into a limousine waiting at the curb, Gerstein said.

When Gerstein asked for an officer to take a report, Gerstein said, neither Murphy nor any other of the approximately 10 officers within earshot of the threat came forward.

According to Crimson reporter Adam K. Goodheart '92, Aziz made a similar threat against Gerstein in a telephone conversation the next day.

Gerstein and Bachman said they had reported the incidents on Saturday to police officials immediately after failing to receive assistance. Murphy said that he was investigating the incident involving Bachman, according to Gerstein.

Harvard and Cambridge police officers have also interefered directly with Crimson photographers outside the hotel, the Crimson staff members said. Gerstein said that several officers, including Murphy, blocked his camera lens as he was attempting to take pictures of those entering and exiting the hotel.

In one case, a plainclothes Harvard officer grabbed Gerstein's camera lens, the photographer said. Both Gerstein and Bachman said they were using telephoto zoom lenses which allowed them to take pictures without closely approaching the subject.

Several police officers told the Crimson staffers not to take their pictures, arguing that they had a legal right not to be photographed.

A Cambridge police officer, who asked not to be identified, said that Murphy has posted a written order at the hotel prohibiting all officers assigned to protecting the prince from speaking with the news media.

According to Murphy, the prince has requested that no photos be taken of any members of his party. On several occasions, members of the prince's security detail have said that taking news photographs, particularly of the prince's family, poses a "security risk," Gerstein said.

However, representatives of The Crimson and other publications were permitted to photograph Aziz, the prince and two of his children at a breakfast held in August.

When asked why the prince's security agent had kicked the Crimson photographer, Aziz defended the agent's behavior, saying the student had insulted the man.

"If anybody comes to bother my people or bother myself, I have the right to do the same thing," Gerstein quoted him as saying.

When told by Gerstein that federal and state laws protect the right of photographers to take pictures on public sidewalks and in public parks, Aziz suggested that The Crimson had abused its First Amendment rights, Gerstein said.

"I'm sorry the people can create the law for people like you to misuse it," Gerstein quoted him as saying.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. this morning, James A. Hauser, an attorney with the Miami-based firm of Hauser and McSurdy, contacted The Crimson. Hauser said he was representing the Saudi royal family, and had flown up from Florida that evening.

At about 4:30 a.m., The Crimson informed Hauser that it would publish an article on the incidents, and offered Hauser the opportunity to issue a statement on behalf of the royal family.

About 30 minutes later, Hauser called back and said he was unable to obtain an official statement at such a late hour.