RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Saudi authorities have seized two suspected members of the al-Qaida network, including a Nigerian national who was distributing provocative leaflets.
Interior ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Mansour Turki said Monday that police patrolling the holy city of Mecca in western Saudi Arabia arrested the Nigerian Sunday afternoon as he was distributing leaflets.
"The man is believed to belong to the stray group," Turki said, using an expression referring to al-Qaida, whose members, in the government's view, have deviated from the straight path of Islam.
Turki said another suspect was arrested Sunday in Riyadh and taken away for interrogation.
Saudi Arabia has been rocked by bombings and clashes between gunmen and police since May 2003. More than 258 people have been killed in terror activities since then.
