8 dead in Saudi Arabia US consulate siege

Five staff at the US consulate in the Saudi port of Jeddah were killed when gunmen stormed the compound, provoking a shootout that left three attackers dead.

A Saudi security source denied initial reports that at least four members of the national guard were also killed when they clashed with the gunmen.

The US embassy in Riyadh said five non-American employees and contractors with the consulate were killed in today's attack.

The spokesman said they were expatriates, although he did not give their nationalities.

There were no American casualties in the attack, while the embassy said two other non-American staff members were wounded.