San Francisco ? Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States insisted Friday his country stands firmly against terrorism, despite continued criticism from Capitol Hill that funds could still be moving through Saudi charities to organizations such as al-Qaida.

“If you read the papers … everybody and their mother are bin Laden supporters” in Saudi Arabia, Prince Bandar told a gathering organized by the nonpartisan World Affairs Council. “That’s not true.”

The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 changed the climate of comfort in the United States and abroad, Bandar told several hundred audience members. But he reiterated assertions that Saudi Arabia gave no support, clandestine or otherwise, for the attacks.

“Nothing that happened before 9-11 was secret. All of us were on autopilot, I guess,” said Bandar , who rarely gives public talks.

Fifteen of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers were Saudis, and al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was born in Saudi Arabia, although the kingdom revoked his citizenship in 1994.

U.S. officials have said that Saudi charities helped fund al-Qaida.

The Bush administration praised Saudi efforts to nab al-Qaida operatives after the May suicide bombings of housing compounds in Riyadh. But in a congressional report released in July, several government officials complained of a lack of Saudi cooperation in counterterrorism efforts.

“(The 9-11 attacks) shook me to the roots, and so did to most Saudis,” Bandar said. He said he was deeply disturbed that the attacks soured the American people’s view of his country.

Bandar is a trained fighter pilot and diplomat who for 20 years has worked behind the scenes to keep relations between the two allies steady.

He spoke of his country’s efforts — and duty — to fight terrorism.

“I think we have taken enough steps that will be proven to be the right steps,” Bandar said.

Saudi Arabia has suspended several clerics who taught intolerance, Bandar said.

“We didn’t do it to please the United States of America,” he said. “We did it because it violated the essence of our religion.”