Two Saudi policemen killed in Jeddah clash

Two Saudi police officers were killed in a firefight with gunmen holed up in Jeddah on Thursday, the interior ministry spokesman told Agence France-Presse. The clash broke out in the Red Sea city's central Al-Ruwis neighborhood when gunmen opened fire at police from a building under construction which they entered to avoid a checkpoint, the ministry's spokesman General Mansur al-Turki said.

Security forces surrounded the building and exchanges of fire were heard, Turki said. The building is near the city's large Al-Ruwis prison.

Al-Arabiya TV, which broke the story, said ambulances had been sent to pick up an unspecified number of wounded. Helicopters were also circling the scene, it added.

The gunmen escaped through the security cordon thrown up around their hideout, officials admitted.