Time was running out tonight for an American hostage facing death in Saudi Arabia.

SECURITY forces were desperately hunting yesterday for a US hostage facing death within hours at the hands of terrorists in Saudi Arabia.

Security forces were desperately hunting today for an American hostage facing death within hours at the hands of terrorists in Saudi Arabia.

A statement that has surfaced on the internet, purportedly from Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida terror network, claims responsibility for an attack on two American military personnel in Riyadh.

Tens of European, US and other hostages were released today and a gunmen believed to be the lead Islamic militant holding them was arrested, a Saudi security official said, adding that two other gunmen were “in the process of being arrested”.