Saudi forces clash with suspected militants

From AFP

Saudi security forces were involved in a fierce gunfight with suspected militants in a town north of Riyadh, witnesses told AFP.

The clashes broke out around 1030 GMT in the Al-Nassim residential area of Buraida when security men were searching for wanted terror suspects, the witnesses said Monday.

The gunbattle, which witnesses said was continuing intermittently, was at its most intense around 1200 GMT when helicopters hovered above the area and security forces systematically searched for the armed suspects.

Buraidi is located in Al-Qassim region, some 320 kilometres (200 miles) north of the capital.