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Sacamuelas · 12-06-2004, 08:47

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/...ack/index.html

CNN) -- Five Saudi militants attacked the U.S. Consulate in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, but Saudi security forces killed three of them and wounded two others, the Saudi Interior Ministry said.

A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman in Riyadh said no Americans had been taken hostage or wounded but that two members of the local staff had been injured.

A Saudi Interior Ministry official said several members of the Saudi security forces were killed and several others wounded in Monday's attack, launched around 11:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m. ET).

In addition, he said, some Saudi civilians who were at the consulate were hit by the gunfire.

The official said the militants threw explosives at two gates of the sprawling, walled consulate and then entered, exchanging fire with guards.

A senior Saudi official in Washington told CNN's Andrea Koppel an unknown number of third country nationals who worked at the consulate were taken hostage for a time. Some suffered wounds but all were released.

He said Saudis officials believe grenades were "thrown in as a diversion." The attackers "stormed into part of the consulate" known as the visa section where they took the third country nationals hostage.

12-06-2004, 08:47	#1
Sacamuelas JAWBREAKER Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Gulf coast Posts: 1,906	Five Saudi militants attacked the U.S. Consulate in the Saudi port city of Jeddah http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/...ack/index.html CNN) -- Five Saudi militants attacked the U.S. Consulate in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, but Saudi security forces killed three of them and wounded two others, the Saudi Interior Ministry said. A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman in Riyadh said no Americans had been taken hostage or wounded but that two members of the local staff had been injured. A Saudi Interior Ministry official said several members of the Saudi security forces were killed and several others wounded in Monday's attack, launched around 11:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m. ET). In addition, he said, some Saudi civilians who were at the consulate were hit by the gunfire. The official said the militants threw explosives at two gates of the sprawling, walled consulate and then entered, exchanging fire with guards. A senior Saudi official in Washington told CNN's Andrea Koppel an unknown number of third country nationals who worked at the consulate were taken hostage for a time. Some suffered wounds but all were released. He said Saudis officials believe grenades were "thrown in as a diversion." The attackers "stormed into part of the consulate" known as the visa section where they took the third country nationals hostage.
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