US backs Saudis after Riyadh bomb

The US is to discuss more security initiatives

George W Bush has reassured Saudi Arabia of US support in ending terrorism after a deadly attack on a residential compound in Riyadh.

Saudi officials say al-Qaeda was behind Saturday night's blasts which killed at least 17 people.

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is in the capital to discuss further security initiatives.

Meanwhile, Saudi clerics are seeking a way to mediate between the government and militants.

The effort is led by Dr Mohsen al-Awaji, spokesman for an organisation called the Global Anti-Aggression Campaign.

'Soft target'

There is anger in Riyadh over the blasts which killed mainly Arabs and occurred during the Holy month of Ramadan.

I believe it was al-Qaeda Richard Armitage, US Deputy Secretary of State Send us your reaction

The Saudi ambassador to London Prince Turki al-Faisal told Reuters news agency that the bombing of a Arab housing compound showed the militants are aiming at soft targets.

"It is a clear sign of a desperate group that wants to show it can do things... Hence they chose the target that they did," he said.

"They want to show they can do something, after all the successes that we've had in tracking down these people over the last six months."

Al-Qaeda link

Saudi officials have said the attack was similar to the attack on a Western compound in Riyadh in May which left dozens dead.

In pictures: Riyadh blast Compound eyewitnesses

"This confirms that those who carried out the bombing belong to the al-Qaeda movement," one official told AFP news agency.

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz said the authorities would track down the perpetrators of the crime "who claim to be Muslim".

"I can't say that last night's attack was the only or the last attack. My view is these al-Qaeda terrorists - and I believe it was al-Qaeda - would prefer to have many such events," Mr Armitage told reporters.

"The president told the crown prince that the United States stands with Saudi Arabia in the war against terrorism," said a spokesman for Geroge W Bush.

US warning

The US has put pressure on Saudi Arabia to act against al-Qaeda since the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington which are widely believed to have been carried out mainly by Saudi nations.

The US, which had closed its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia on Saturday because of a heightened threat of attack, ordered its diplomatic staff and their families in the country to remain at home.

VIOLENT WEEK IN THE KINGDOM 3 Nov: Police kill two 'militants' in Mecca, capture six 6 Nov: Two al-Qaeda suspects blow themselves up in Mecca in shoot-out with police 6 Nov: Riyadh police shoot dead third suspect from Mecca 8 Nov: US diplomatic missions closed amid "terrorist threat" 9 Nov: Compound attacked

Embassy officials said the missions would remain close until at least Tuesday.

Rescuers throughout the night continued to pull bodies from the wreckage of the Muhaya compound located around two kilometres from palaces belonging to many members of the Saudi royal family.

The state news agency SPA said 122 people were injured but most of them lightly.

Saudi officials said seven Lebanese, four Egyptians, one Saudi, one Sudanese and four unidentified people had been killed. The dead included five children.

There were no details of the attackers, although some sources said two bombers had driven into the compound in a stolen police car, following a gun battle.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was "horrified" by the attack.