[Excerpt: The province of Qassim is one of the most religiously conservative areas in the kingdom...The shoot-out began early on Sunday and gunfire and grenade explosions could still be heard on Monday morning, according to witnesses.]
http://212.58.240.132/1/hi/world/middle_east/4407351.stm Last Updated: Monday, 4 April, 2005, 14:35 GMT 15:35 UK Suspects die in Saudi shoot-out At least seven suspected militants are reported to have died in a two-day gun battle with Saudi security forces north of the capital Riyadh, officials say. The violence erupted after police officers surrounded a house in al-Ras, Qassim province. Dozens of Saudi officers were hurt in the battle, a provincial governor said. Saudi security forces have been waging a campaign against Islamic militants blamed for a series of attacks on foreign workers and government offices. The province of Qassim is one of the most religiously conservative areas in the kingdom. The shoot-out began early on Sunday and gunfire and grenade explosions could still be heard on Monday morning, according to witnesses. State-run television interrupted regular programmes on Monday to air a statement by the interior ministry confirming that seven suspected militants had been killed. Other television and newspaper reports quoting security officials said eight gunmen were killed in the battle. The gunmen fled to a nearby building that was still under construction, provincial governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdul-Aziz was quoted as saying. "They were asked to surrender, but those people are known not to listen," he told state television. The suspected militants also reportedly used grenades against their attackers and several security vehicles had been damaged. Al-Qaeda 'links' Fifteen officers were reported injured on Sunday, but that total rose to at least 35 by midday on Monday. At least one officer was killed. Late on Sunday, an interior ministry spokesman had said the resistance from the gunmen was "much weaker than it was earlier". The spokesman added that security forces were hoping to "finish this within hours". Since 2003, Islamic militants have carried out suicide bombings and fought battles with security forces. The attacks have tended to target foreign workers in the kingdom and have been blamed on groups linked to Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda organisation. Saudi authorities published a list of 26 men it blamed for the violence - all but five of whom are now dead or in custody. enditem ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> DonorsChoose. A simple way to provide underprivileged children resources often lacking in public schools. Fund a student project in NYC/NC today! http://us.click.yahoo.com/EHLuJD/.WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
