Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz

RIYHADH, June 15 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Ten people, including five members of the security services, were killed in an overnight clash between police and suspected terrorists in the holy city of Mecca, western Saudi Arabia.

Five other security officers were injured in the fighting in Mecca's Khaldiya district and seven people on the authorities' wanted list were arrested, the daily Okaz reported Sunday, June 15.

The London-based Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), citing "diverse sources" in Saudi Arabia, said that eight security officers and three civilians were killed in the clash.

Okaz said the shootout occurred after a group of men aboard a vehicle ignored police orders to stop and took refuge in a building in Khaldiya following a car chase through the streets in which shots were fired.

Police evacuated the building and stormed the apartment where the suspects were holed up, the report added. Inside they found a large quantity of weapons and explosives, while one of those arrested was wearing a bomber's belt.

Okaz said that the dead included a captain in the security forces while a lieutenant-colonel and three sergeants were among the wounded.

According to MIRA, large forces of police were sent to the area and carried out wide-scale searches, but Okaz praised the authorities for the way they managed the incident.

It was not immediately known if the suspects were linked to the May 12 Riyadh bombings that left 35 people dead.

Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz told Saturday's Al-Riyadh newspaper that five more people had been arrested recently in connection with the blasts, one of whom "could have played a major role" in the attacks.

Prince Nayef announced last week that 25 suspects had been rounded up. The Saudi security authorities were still searching for several other suspects, including 10 members of a cell of 19 uncovered by the kingdom just a few days before the bombings.

The Minister blamed Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network for the attacks, saying "we have no doubt about this. It’s very clear and all (attacks) came from Al-Qaeda."

Prince Nayef said the new suspects were arrested during security checks in the past two days.

He said four belonged to the group that carried out the Riyadh attacks - although their roles were "unclear".

However, he added: "There's a fifth who was arrested before that who might have had a major role".

Prince Nayef did not identify or give any details about the latest suspects.

Since last month's bombing the Saudi authorities have been keen to publicize operations against “suspected militants”.