An armed clash Tuesday between Saudi security forces and al-Qaeda gunmen — some of whom were disguised as women and wearing explosives belts — left two of the gunmen and a soldier dead, the Saudi Interior Ministry said. Another soldier was slightly wounded in the clash at a checkpoint in the south of the kingdom, near the border with Yemen, said ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, according to the AP.
Security forces at the checkpoint stopped a car carrying three men, two of whom were disguised as women, al-Turki said in a statement. 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 gunmen 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. One of the gunmen was captured.
© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
