A three day gun battle between Saudi security forces and suspected al-Qaida fighters ended today with at least ten militants killed, a security official said.

Saudi police have killed nine al-Qaida linked militants, two of whom are believed to be on a list of most wanted terrorists, officials said today, as a tense stand-off between security forces and heavily armed extremists continued.

SEVEN suspected al-Qaida militants were killed in a shoot-out with security forces in central Saudi Arabia, the Interior Ministry said yesterday. The statement said another militant was taken to hospital in critical condition.

Seven suspected al-Qaida militants were killed in a shoot-out with security forces in central Saudi Arabia, the Interior Ministry said today.