At least nine people were killed by gunmen who attacked the US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Monday, according to Saudi officials. They included four security guards and five members of staff.

The attackers reportedly took 18 staff and visa applicants hostage before the consulate was stormed by Saudi security forces. Three attackers were killed and two injured and arrested, the Interior Ministry said.

A statement from the official Saudi Press Agency said a "stray bunch", a reference to Islamist militants, threw explosives at the gate of the consulate then entered.

US Embassy spokesperson Carol Kalin said in Riyadh that there were no reports of American casualties.

"We can confirm there has been an attack on the consulate," she said. “The incident is still in progress with Saudi emergency forces securing the compound."

Violence has surged in Saudi Arabia since last May, during which time militants with alleged links to al-Qaida have staged several bombing attacks against western targets and dozens of foreigners have been killed.

(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2004)