Six militants killed in Saudi shoot-out

Six suspected al Qaeda-linked militants and a policeman were killed in a shoot-out in the Saudi capital Riyadh yesterday, after police surrounded their house to prevent an imminent attack, Saudi officials said.

Helicopters hovered above, as police cordoned off the upscale residential district, which also houses royal palaces, where the shoot-out occurred. A seventh militant, who tried to escape, was wounded and arrested.

Security sources said police had been monitoring the group and the shoot-out lasted for about three hours, ending at dawn yesterday.

Saudi state television showed police removing several vehicles from the scene, some of them damaged in the clash, as officers carried away what appeared to be bags of evidence.