Saudi military operation to free hostages held by militants in the eastern oil city of Khobar has ended, with most hostages rescued, Saudi security officials said Sunday.

The suspected al Qaida militants held 45 to 60 people, mostly foreigners, hostage. Saudi security officials have said the Westerner hostages included Americans, Italians and Dutch.

The Philippine government confirmed Sunday that three Filipinos were killed and three others injured in the incident.

Al Qaida-linked militants had been holed up in the six-storey building compound since Saturday after attacking oil facilities in the area, some 400 km northeast of Riyadh. Some 40 Saudi commandos stormed the building early.

Saudi Arabia's security forces have reportedly arrested the leader of the gunmen and some 50 people held hostage at the Oasis complex have been rescued.

The attack was the second deadly assault this month against the Saudi oil industry and came as oil prices have been driven to new highs partly by fears that the Saudi kingdom, the world's largest oil producer, is unable to protect itself from terrorists.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2004)