A key al-Qaida figure was killed in the Saudi holy city of Medina on Thursday, the al-Arabiya TV channel reported.

Saleh al-Awfi, the al-Qaida's chief in Saudi Arabia, was killed in clashes with security forces earlier in the day, the interior ministry confirmed.

Awfi was believed to have assumed the leadership last year and is one of the most wanted militants that have been staging violent attacks in the oil-rich kingdom.

Saudi security forces have been battling against al-Qaida's members and supporters in recent years, especially after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, in which many of the hijackers were Saudis.

Also on Thursday, at least four suspected militants were killed in clashes with security forces in the capital Riyadh.

Source: Xinhua