Four killed in clash east of Saudi Arabia

Two Saudis wanted for their involvement in unrest in the eastern town of Awamiya and two policemen were killed on Thursday in a clash in the predominantly Shiite area, the Ministry of Interior announced.

Awamiya has been at the forefront of a protest in the Eastern Province.

Local media reported on Thursday that a court has jailed seven protesters for up to 20 years for joining a demonstration in the area.

A specialized court in Riyadh on Wednesday sentenced the young defendants to between six and 20 years in prison and imposed travel bans of the same duration as their jail terms.

They were convicted of “taking part in protests,” “chanting slogans against the state,” and “possessing and making Molotov cocktails,” AFP reported, quoting local newspapers.