.Shootout kills 2 al-Qaida members, 1 Saudi soldier
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - A shootout Tuesday between security forces and al-Qaida militants equipped with explosives vests and hand grenades in southern Saudi Arabia left two of the militants and a soldier dead, the Interior Ministry said.
Another soldier was lightly injured in the clash at Hamra checkpoint, more than 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the border with Yemen, said ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Mansour al-Turki.
The shootout was the first known confrontation between authorities and al-Qaida since the suicide attack that injured Assistant Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef in the western seaport of Jiddah on Aug. 27. The attacker was a member of the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.
Security forces at the checkpoint stopped a car carrying the three men, al-Turki said in a statement. Two of them were disguised as women. When a female inspector approached the car to check the identities of those dressed as women, the three opened fire.
He said two of the militants were wearing explosives vests and hiding hand grenades in their clothes. More grenades as well as machine-guns and materials used in making explosives were found in the car.
The third assailant was captured.
The statement said no other details will be released now because the investigation is ongoing.
It was not clear whether the militants were part of al-Qaida's operations in Yemen. Saudi officials have expressed concern that al-Qaida could use Yemen as a sanctuary to launch cross-border attacks after the network's Saudi and Yemeni branches merged in January.
The Interior Ministry has spearheaded the kingdom's aggressive campaign against al-Qaida, killing or capturing most of its leaders after a string of attacks that started in 2003.
MyWay
The fun is just getting started, get the popcorn.
Another soldier was lightly injured in the clash at Hamra checkpoint, more than 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the border with Yemen, said ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Mansour al-Turki.
The shootout was the first known confrontation between authorities and al-Qaida since the suicide attack that injured Assistant Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef in the western seaport of Jiddah on Aug. 27. The attacker was a member of the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.
Security forces at the checkpoint stopped a car carrying the three men, al-Turki said in a statement. Two of them were disguised as women. When a female inspector approached the car to check the identities of those dressed as women, the three opened fire.
He said two of the militants were wearing explosives vests and hiding hand grenades in their clothes. More grenades as well as machine-guns and materials used in making explosives were found in the car.
The third assailant was captured.
The statement said no other details will be released now because the investigation is ongoing.
It was not clear whether the militants were part of al-Qaida's operations in Yemen. Saudi officials have expressed concern that al-Qaida could use Yemen as a sanctuary to launch cross-border attacks after the network's Saudi and Yemeni branches merged in January.
The Interior Ministry has spearheaded the kingdom's aggressive campaign against al-Qaida, killing or capturing most of its leaders after a string of attacks that started in 2003.
MyWay
The fun is just getting started, get the popcorn.
posted by madtom at 2:54 PM
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