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More Saoodi Turbans Downed
Four Saudi Police Officers and Suspected Militant Die in Raid Adds a bit of detail to yesterday's article. Reuters replay of the excerpt in Steve's comment... Saudi security sources said four police officers and a Muslim militant had been killed in the second major clash here in three days after Saudi security forces raided a militant stronghold. An Interior Ministry statement, apparently referring to the initial stages of the fighting in a fundamentalist area in southern Riyadh, said three policemen had been killed and a suspect wounded. It said the fighting had started when the police tried to check a truck parked in a street in the area. Two other policemen were wounded and an unidentified number of suspects were arrested, the statement said. "Some suspects are still holed up in one house," a security official said today, as the shooting eased off, more than five hours after the assault started. Sounds like they would like to take some alive - "squeeze" them for more info? The ministry statement made no mention of the continuing siege. In addition to those killed, more than 15 were wounded, the official said. It was the fourth clash reported between the police and militants in Saudi Arabia in less than a month. Saudi security officials said Monday that the police had arrested about 10 suspected Islamic militants after engaging in a shootout in Riyadh on Sunday. A resident reached by phone today in the neighborhood where the shootout occurred said that at least five houses had been involved in the raid, in which security forces were backed by helicopters. "The operation is very big," the resident said. "The whole area is surrounded by security police. It is a big area." Residents said they saw police officers arrest suspected militants. "I saw one man break free from police and run away after kicking off his shoes," a resident said. "Police were chasing him." You donât have to kick off sandals, they fall off when you try to run. You do have to pick up your skirt though! Ambulances sped from several houses in the district. The police set up barricades, closing the area to passers-by and reporters. Posted by: PayDay 2003-08-13 |
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