Gunmen attack US consulate in Saudi Arabai

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - Attackers have struck the US consulate in the Saudi city of Jeddah and have killed four Saudi guards and taken 18 local staff hostage.

The attackers also set the building on fire and exchanged fire with security forces.

"I can confirm there has been an attack on the US consulate in Jeddah. The incident is ongoing with Saudi security forces trying to secure the building," said US embassy spokeswoman Carol Kalin on Monday.

She said there was no word on American casualties.

Early this morning agencies reported that three attackers had been killed and two were under arrest.

A Western executive, quoting officials inside the building, said attackers infiltrated the complex and threw hand grenades. "Several men breached US and Saudi security and lobbed one or several grenades at the building," he said.

Security sources and Kalin said they could not confirm if the attack was caused by a car bomb or grenades.

"The embassy in Riyadh and the missions in Jeddah and Dhahran have been closed as a precaution. We are still trying to gather information," Kalin said.

Saudi officials, who have been battling a wave of al Qaeda violence against foreigners since May last year, could not immediately comment on the attack.

Flames could be seen coming from the building and two heavy plumes of smoke rose into the sky. Hundreds of security forces sealed off the area. Police around the building sheltered behind their cars.

"I heard a heavy exchange of fire", one bystander told Reuters. Several further rounds of shooting could be heard.

"We have an emergency case," an official inside the building told Reuters. He gave no details. Alarms could be heard sounding from inside the consulate.

Saudi Arabia has been battling a wave of al Qaeda violence since May 2003 which has targeted foreigners and security forces.

Around 170 people, including foreigners, security forces and militants have been killed in attacks and clashes since the first suicide bombings in Riyadh 18 months ago.

Apart from bomb attacks on foreign targets in Saudi Arabia, gunmen have also shot dead several Americans and Europeans in a campaign to drive foreigners from the birthplace of Islam.

Last month Saudi police shot dead a militant the Interior Ministry said had helped plan an al Qaeda-linked attack that killed 18 people at a Riyadh housing compound in November 2003.