Wanted Saudi militant shot dead

It was the latest in a series of shootouts in the Saudi capital

The Saudi authorities say they have killed another leading al-Qaeda suspect in a shoot-out in the capital, Riyadh.

They said that one of two militants killed in the city's al-Quds area was Abdullah al-Rashud, "one of the most dangerous suspects in the kingdom".

He was described as an "ideologue" of al-Qaeda, which has been blamed for a spate of attacks in Saudi Arabia.

A member of the Saudi security forces also died in the clash and at least two other people were reported wounded.

An AFP correspondent saw two vehicles destroyed - believed to have been carrying the suspected militants.

Several people were reported to have been arrested, and helicopters hovered overhead in a hunt for others.

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television said security forces were still chasing two other militants, in what security sources described as a "very important operation".

Police found a large quantity of explosives and "important data" in a militant safe house in eastern Riyadh, the channel said.

The Saudi security forces have been battling a wave of attacks by militants inspired by the al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden, which have resulted in more than 80 deaths.

King Fahd last week declared a conditional amnesty for militants who surrendered within one month.

Under the amnesty, no charges will be brought by the state against those who surrender, although relatives of the victims of attacks in Saudi Arabia can still demand punishment.

Militant confesses

Two people have given themselves up, including one - Othman al-Amri - who is number 19 on the Saudi government's list of 26 most wanted militants.

Saaban al-Shihri was not on the most-wanted list

Saudi television on Wednesday showed a public confession by the other militant, who is not on the list.

Saaban al-Shihri called on other militants to give themselves up, saying he had been treated better than he had expected by the police.

"Thanks be to God, I took the initiative and surrendered to the police. There, they gave me a warm welcome and thanks be to God a new future and a new life opened up before me," he said.

The Saudi interior ministry says Mr Shihri was wanted on security charges and it accuses him of providing logistical support to al-Qaeda operatives in the kingdom.

The Saudi amnesty offer was denounced in an al-Qaeda newsletter on the internet, which said it was doomed to fail.