Two policemen shot dead in Kuwait

Two policemen have been shot dead in Kuwait after pursuing a man wanted by state security, the government says.

It is unclear what happened to the suspect. One report said he was injured and escaped, another that he was captured and later died.

Kuwaiti television said the shooting took place in the Hawally suburb of Kuwait City.

The incident came shortly after the US embassy in Kuwait issued an urgent security warning to American citizens.

In a detailed message on the embassy's website, officials warned of random attacks on Westerners.

"The embassy is issuing this urgent message because it has received credible information that an individual or individuals moving about Kuwait in a black coloured small sedan intend to randomly attack Westerners," the US embassy said in its security advisory.

It was not clear if the warning and the shooting were linked.

Increased security

The suspect, Fawaz al-Otaibi, entered a shop and shot at police chasing him, Kuwait's interior ministry said.

He then escaped into a waiting car containing a number of "colleagues".

One of the suspects in the car shot at police, killing two and wounding two, the statement said.

Reuters cited security sources as saying Mr Otaibi later died in hospital of his wounds.

The ministry statement did not specify what the men were wanted for.

Kuwait has recently increased security in public areas.

The interior minister said at the weekend that Kuwait has received threats, but did not elaborate.

The country has been cracking down on Islamic extremists it fears are targeting Western interests in Kuwait.