Four killed in Mecca gun battle

Two Saudi policeman and two Islamic militants were killed during a gun battle in Islam’s holiest city of Mecca today.

It was the latest confrontation between the kingdom’s police and al Qaida-linked militants, security officials said.

The fight started when four militants in a taxi – a driver and three others disguised in women’s all-over robes – tried to cross a checkpoint into Mecca in the evening, said Brigadier General Mansour al-Turki, an Interior Ministry spokesman.

When the group was stopped, they tried to flee, and police captured the driver.

Several security officials in Mecca said the three fled into the neighbourhood of Umm al-Joud – which like much of Mecca is build on hills – and took shelter in houses.

After several hours of fighting, two of the militants were killed and third was wounded and captured.

Two policemen were also killed and a number wounded.