Saudis free hostages as 22 killed in al-Qaida attack

SAUDI commandos in helicopters stormed an expatriate resort yesterday to free hostages seized by suspected al-Qaida gunmen in an assault that killed 22 people mostly foreigners, including one American.

The 25-hour attack started on Saturday in the Persian Gulf coast city of Khobar when as many as seven militants went on a shooting rampage at two oil industry office compounds before moving up the street to the upscale Oasis resort and taking hostages.

In an audio tape posted yesterday on Islamic websites, a speaker identified as Abdulaziz Issa Abdul-Mohsin al-Moqrin, al-Qaida's chief in the Saudi region, said the deadly rampage was part of a campaign to drive "crusaders" from "the land of Islam." The speaker also said an American's body was dragged through the streets.