'Saudis released gunmen on advice of US'

Saudi authorities gave safe passage to three al-Qaida gunmen after the they killed 10 of the hostages on the advice of the US, a senior security official said.

The gunmen were holding the hostages at a hotel in the oil hub of Khobar. The Saudi official said upon hearing hostages had been killed, US officials advised the Saudis that letting the militants go would avert a bigger catastrophe.