Al-Qaida Takes Hostages in Saudi Attack

Al-Qaida is claiming credit for an attack Saturday morning in the Saudi Arabian city of Khobar in which 16 foreign oil workers, including one American, were killed and up to 50 taken hostage.

"They are holding 50 foreign hostages," a manager at the Oasis housing compound told Reuters. "There are Americans, but there are more Italians. There are also Arabs."

A witness told Reuters that the attackers were wearing military uniforms. They demanded that residents show their identity cards to find out their religions. "([The terrorists] were asking people if they were Christian or Muslims," he explained. The Muslims were released.

An American, a Briton, an Egyptian, two Filipinos, an Indian and a Pakistani were reportedly killed in the attack, along with two Saudi civilians and seven security force members, the security sources said. The U.S. Embassy confirmed that one American had been killed.

Militants reportedly tied the body of the British employee of Arab oil firm Apicorp to a car and dragged it through the streets for more than a mile.

The attack is the second in a month to target Saudi oil production facilities. U.S. Ambassador James C. Oberwetter urged Americans to leave Saudi Arabia after a May 1 terrorist attack on the oil facility at Yanbu that killed five Westerners, including an American, whose body was mutilated.

At a May 3 meeting that reporters weren't allowed to attend, witnesses said Oberwetter's message was clear: We cannot protect you here.

At the time, Saudi officials protested Oberwetter's advice to leave.

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