One gunman, one police man were killed in clashes in Riyadh

A statement by the Saudi Ministry of the Interior said that one gunman was killed and another detained in the clashes which took place yesterday midnight in al-Nakheel quarters in Riyadh. The clashes also resulted in killing one policeman and wounding two.

The statement read that Fahd Bin Ali Bin Dakhil al-Qabalan- one of the wanted - was killed during a chase in the Saudi capital. The statement added that the security authorities raided two shelters owned by al-Qaida organization and confiscated amounts of weapons and communications equipments and a computer.

Security sources said that Qabalan was repsonsible for the smuggling of weapons and explosives to the Kingdom in addition to providing items necessary for implementing the attacks.

Preliminary reports by Saudi security sources announced the killing of two gunmen in confrontation between security forces and those wanted. The sources said that the clashes took place in al-Muhamadeyah quarters to the north of Riyadh, while other sources said it took place in al-Nakheel quarters.

It indicated that the clashes started when a patrol for the security forces tried to stop a car carrying two persons and they started to launch fire at the men of the patrol and two of them were injured.

This information came days after an announcement made by the Saudi King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz of a grace period for pardoning all wanted persons by the sceurity forces within a one month period.

Meantime, deputy ruler of Riyadh area, Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz, denied the person who was killed on Wednesday in al-Quds quarters to the east of Riyadh to be Abdullah al-Rashoud.