RIYADH - A new bill regulating the rights of defendants and suspects before courts and the police came into effect in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, AFP said.

The 225-article bill, known as the criminal procedural law, is part of a plan to restructure court procedures in the oil-rich kingdom, following the government's decision to allow lawyers to present arguments in criminal courts.

The bill was approved by the Advisory Shura Council and the government last year and published in the official *** Gazette *** six months ago.

"As the bill was published in the official *** Gazette *** six months ago, its application starts as of tomorrow (Wednesday)," Deputy General prosecutor Sheikh Salman al-Faleh told *** Al-Jazirah *** newspaper.

The bill includes comprehensive instructions to be followed by justice and law enforcement authorities in all stages of arrest, interrogation, trial, and execution of verdicts.

Lawyers in the oil-rich state, which applies a strict form of Islamic law, were previously allowed to appear in court normally only for civil or commercial cases.

The new bill gives suspects and defendants in criminal and other cases the right to hire lawyers during all stages of detention, investigation and trial.

Under the bill, trials will be open to the public unless the judge decides otherwise for exceptional cases. Procedures for pressing charges, and hearing testimony from defendants and witnesses are also laid out.

The bill forbids any physical or moral harm or torture to extract confessions from detainees, who must be referred to an interrogator within 24 hours of arrest. An interrogator can extend the detention period for a maximum of five days if there are strong criminal suspicions.

Detention, however, can be extended for a maximum of six months but with the prior approval of the general prosecutor, the bill stipulates.

Final verdicts are issued by a two-tier court system, but major verdicts like death and amputation must be approved by the Supreme Judicial Council.

In certain cases, convicts can appeal final judgements and if successful, they can file for material damages.

Court verdicts are negated if they contravene Islamic sharia and existing laws.

The government has also passed another 45-article bill to regulate the legal profession in the conservative Muslim kingdom.

Justice Minister Abdullah al-Sheikh has insisted that the Islamic laws of Saudi Arabia, despite criticism from international human rights group Amnesty International, are "the best guarantee" for human rights.

Amnesty has criticized Saudi Arabia for arbitrary arrests, forced confessions, the lack of defendants' rights, long detentions and executions.