Three explosions rocked the Saudi capital Riyadh around midnight Saturday, one day after the US diplomatic missions in the country were closed amid warns of possible terror attacks.

The blasts occurred near a district where the palaces of Saudi royal family's senior princes and diplomatic quarters are located in the western part of Riyadh.

At least 20 to 30 people were killed in the bomb and dozens of people, mostly children, were wounded, according to the CNN report early on Sunday.

Witnesses said smoke could be seen rising from the area of the blast and police cars and ambulances were racing towards the blast sites.

The official SPA news agency quoted the interior ministry as saying that a "terrorist bombing" hit the al-Muhaya residential compound west of Riyadh Saturday night."

A US Embassy source said the attack targeted a residential compound in the Nakheel neighborhood near the Muhaya shopping center.

On Friday, sources from the US embassy in Riyadh said the US diplomatic missions will close on Saturday to assess security conditions as credible information showed that terrorists in Saudi Arabia plan to carry out attacks in the kingdom.

The United States had earlier warned of possible terror attacks in Saudi Arabia during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

On May 12, a triple suicide bombing attack on Western residential compounds in Riyadh killed 35 people and wounded more than 100. Since then Saudi authorities have launched large-scale crack down on suspected militants in the country. 

Saudi Health Minister said at least 50 people were injured in the blast, according to local TV.

But Hanadi al-Khandakli, a manager of the al-Muhaya residential compound which was hit by the blast, said that at least 100 wounded in the Riyadh bombing.

"There are no less than 100 wounded, most of them children," she said, adding she could not immediately tell whether there were any fatalities.

A senior Saudi official said on Sunday al Qaida should be blamed for the bombing.

The attack is exactly in the style of al Qaida, the official was quoted by the CNN monitored here. It was a suicide car bombing, the official said.

There was no official report on casualties in the attack. The Saudi Arabian television reported that at least two were killed and more than 80 others were wounded. Other reports quoted diplomats or hospital sources as saying that at least 20 to 30 people were killed.

Reports say that at least two Americans were wounded in the attack.

A Chinese diplomat told Xinhua that so far no Chinese casualties were reported, adding that Chinese doctors who work at a nearby hospital were called to the hospital to treat the wounded.

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday strongly condemned the terrorist bombing.

In a message to Saudi King Fahd Ibn Abdul-Aziz, Hu expressed sympathy and solicitude for the wounded people and families of the victims.  

Hu emphasized that the Chinese government is firmly opposed to terrorism in any form and is willing to make unremitting efforts with Saudi Arabia and other members of the international community to safeguard world peace and security.

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2003)