Alwaleed says Citigroup CEO has full confidence

Nov 24 (Reuters) - Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal spoke Monday on CNBC television, after Citigroup Inc received a new capital infusion from the U.S. government. Alwaleed is the bank's largest individual investor:

* Alwaleed says Citigroup Chief Executive CEO Vikram Pandit deserves more time, has his full confidence

* Alwaleed says FDIC deserves part of blame for citigroup's fate, after allowing Wachovia Corp to be sold to Wells Fargo & Co rather than Citigroup

* Alwaleed says Pandit is putting "the house in order"

* Alwaleed says capital injections into Citigroup are "way beyond" what bank needed

* Alwaleed says fomer Citigroup Chief Executive Sanford Weill told him he was sorry for appointing Charles Prince as chief executive of Citigroup in 2003

* Alwaleed says Citigroup difficulties now should be blamed on prior management

* Alwaleed calls Citigroup a "core investment"

* Alwaleed says "I am personally committed to Citigroup, no doubt about that"

* Alwaleed says Citigroup unlike American International Group Inc in that it did not need to be nationalized

* Alwaleed says Pandit deserves a "vote of confidence," and is "doing the right thing"

* Alwaleed says $50-60/barrel oil could help western economies get out of recession

* Alwaleed says would prefer that oil prices rise in steady manner

(New York Equities Desk)