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Most-wanted terrorist dies in Saudi clash
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-06 09:17
Saudi security forces battled heavily armed suspected al-Qaida members holed
up in a sea-front apartment building Monday, a day after two militants — one of
them the kingdom's No. 3 most-wanted terrorist — died in the fighting.
Zaid Saad Zaid al-Samari, a 31-year-old Saudi, was killed Sunday in Dammam, a
security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not
authorized to give information to the media. A police officer also was killed
Sunday.
Al-Samari was on a list of 36 most-wanted terrorists sought in relation to
multiple terror attacks launched in this kingdom since May 2003.
An unknown number of militants fled Sunday to a white two-story building near
Dammam's commercial district, which police surrounded on Monday as fierce gun
battles continued for a second day.
At least 30 anti-terrorism forces were wounded since Sunday, including
several critically, according to Dammam Central Hospital,which treated the
victims.
Police unleashed heavy barrages of gunfire but held off launching a direct
assault on the building in hopes the militants will surrender, officials said.
Officers evacuated people from nearby buildings and blocked off streets
leading into the area, including the city's main shore promenade.
"We are dealing with people who have a tendency to blow themselves up and it
we know they have a significant number of weapons and explosives," Saudi
Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki told the AP.
The ministry said security forces are carrying out an operation "against a
number of elements affiliated to the 'deviant group,'" a term usually used in
reference to al-Qaida's branch in the kingdom.
The clashes prompted U.S. authorities to close the American consulate in
nearby Dhahran.
The violence came as US President Bush's Homeland Security adviser, Frances
Townsend, met top Saudi officials, including King Abdullah, in Riyadh. The
deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command, Air Force Lt. Gen. Lance Smith,
also met Saudi deputy defense minister, Prince Khalid Bin Sultan.
Saudi and U.S. sources declined to provide details on the visits by the
high-ranking American security officials.
Since May 2003, Islamic militants have carried out numerous suicide bombings
and kidnappings and regularly battled security forces. The attacks, which have
tended to target Westerners and housing complexes were they live, have been
blamed on al-Qaida and its allies.
Al-Qaida wants to topple the Saudi royal family because of its close ties
with the West, particularly the United States.
Saudi leaders say they have gotten the upper hand against terror cells,
killing or capturing all but one figure on a previous most-wanted list of 26
militants.
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