Twin Car Bombs Rock Saudi Capital

There is no immediate word about casualties and a security source could not provide further details.

Witnesses reported hearing two large blasts near the ministry building as well as gunfire. The blasts were felt up to 2km away, they said.

A few minutes later, a second car bomb exploded outside a camp for special security forces in the city after attempting to crash into the base, sparking a shootout with guards, security sources said.

Earlier in the day, Saudi police killed a suspected opposition fighter in a shootout in Riyadh and captured two wanted men after a gun battle in the Red Sea city of Jedda, state television and security sources said.

It is not clear if the men are on the list of 26 most wanted al-Qaida fighters.

Political violence

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, has been battling a wave of opposition attacks.

Earlier this month, al-Qaida fighters stormed the US consulate in Jedda, killing five non-US staff in the first attack on a Western mission in Saudi.

An audio tape attributed to Saudi-born al-Qaida leader Usama bin Ladin praised the attack, in which four fighters were killed, and called for strikes on oil facilities in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has been rocked by a surge of opposition attacks since May 2003, in which about 170 people have been killed, including Westerners.

Opponents of the ruling House of Saud say it is dictatorial and corrupt.

On the other hand, the Saudi government accuses its opponents of terrorism and the desire to provoke instability in the country.