Man killed by Saudi car bomb

Riyadh has seen several explosions in recent years

A man has been killed in a car bomb explosion in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, the authorities say.

"At exactly 1616 (1316 GMT) an explosion took place in a Ford Mercury... it is suspected that the cause was an explosive device," an Interior Ministry official said, according to Reuters news agency.

The ministry said the car was owned by a German national.

The identity of the dead man is not yet known.

There have been a number of mysterious explosions in Riyadh in recent years.

Previous bombings

June 2002 - Briton Simon Veness killed in car bomb attack

May 2001 - An American is seriously injured by a bomb in Khobar

March 2001 - A Briton and an Egyptian are injured by a bomb outside a Riyadh book shop

December 2000 - A Scottish man is injured by a blast in Khobar

November 2000 - Two bombs in Riyadh kill a British man and injure four other Britons

Sunday's explosion occurred on Abdulhamida-Khateb street in the north of the city, just 100 metres from a car bombing which killed a British national two years ago.

Christopher Rodway, 47, died when his car was blown up by what police said appeared to be a booby trap.

Most recently another Briton - Simon Veness - was blown up in June this year, provoking fears that Westerners were being targeted in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks on the US.

Several Western embassies in the kingdom have advised their nationals to remain vigilant and to ensure the security of their vehicles.

However, the authorities blame these and other attacks on illegal alcohol rings.

Seven Westerners, including five Britons, are awaiting trial for some of the 2000 and 2001 bomb attacks. They could face the death penalty if convicted.