Okaz: Ten killed including five policemen in clashes in Mecca
Saudi Arabia, Local, 6/16/2003

Ten persons were killed including five Saudi security men in clashes that took place on Saturday evening in Mecca, west of Saudi Arabia, between the security forces and several suspects.

The Saudi daily Okaz issued yesterday said that five persons were wounded in an armed conflict upon breaking into a house in al-Khaledeyah quarters.

The paper explained that an intensive exchange of fire erupted after a police patrol suspected a car and asked its driver to stop but he fled. According to the paper, the persons in the car opened fire at the patrol during the chase operation on the highway.

Okaz added that the suspects headed to al-Khaledeyah quarters and resorted to a flat where they hid, but the police forces attacked the place after evacuating the building from its occupants.

The paper indicated that the security men found in the apartment a large amount of explosives and weapons greater than that found previously in Riyadh.

Okaz said that one of the arrested persons was wearing an explosives belt but gave no mention why he did not use it.

For its part, the opposition Saudi al-Islah ( Reform) movement which takes London as a headquarter said in a statement that 8 members of the security forces and three citizens were killed in the clashes.

This incident however, came in the context of chasing acts by the Saudi authorities against those suspected to be involved in the Riyadh explosions which took place on May 12 or those accused of having links to al-Qaida organization.

Previous Stories:
  Four Moroccans arrested in Saudi Arabia, Saudi official   (6/4/2003)
  Two policemen, one Islamist killed in a chase in Saudi Arabia   (6/2/2003)
  Saudi royal court announces the death of King Fahd's cousin   (5/27/2003)

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