38 detained as Shiites, Sunnis clash in Saudi Arabia

Saudi police

Saudi police detained 38 people in the holy city of Medina after fighting erupted near Islam's oldest mosque Al-Quba on the Shiite religious holiday of Ashura, Saudi media reported on Saturday. Several people suffered minor wounds in Thursday's clashes between "groups of youths," the press reports said.

Three security officials were also wounded, the Al-Madina newspaper said. The Shiite website Rasid.com conveyed the fighting pitted members of Saudi Arabia's Shiite minority against majority Sunnis.

There were clashes between Shiite and Sunni groups near the Al-Quba mosque in April last year. Police said they were triggered by "an argument between teenagers during a football match".