Five wanted militants killed in two days of shooting in Saudi port city

Friday, April 23rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) _ Security forces have killed five wanted militants and were pursuing others after shootouts that spread over two days in the port city of Jiddah, a Saudi security official said Friday.

Police cordoned off the al-Safaa neighborhood late Thursday after receiving a tip that some militants were in the neighborhood, according to a statement from the Interior Ministry. ``The wanted militants started shooting, using different kinds of weapons.''

The ministry said three militants were killed in shooting late Thursday, and one was arrested. Media reports had earlier said two terrorists were killed and three captured.

The gunfire continued into Friday, and the security official said two more wanted men had been killed after refusing to surrender. Their companions fled the scene in a car and police were pursuing them, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

One policeman was slightly injured in the shooting, the ministry statement said.

It was not immediately clear whether any of the dead or captured were on Saudi Arabia's most wanted terrorist lists.

The shootouts followed a suicide bombing Wednesday that killed six people, including the attacker, and injured 148 people at the administrative headquarters of Saudi General Security.

Following that attack, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, pledged ``there will be no compromise'' in the fight against terrorism.