Saudi and U.S. officials say 12 people, including three gunmen, have been killed in an attack on the U.S. Consulate in the port city of Jeddah.
A Consulate spokeswoman said five of its non-American employees died when militants stormed the U.S. compound today (Monday). Earlier, Saudi authorities said four Saudi guards and three militants were also killed in a shootout inside the breached compound.
In Washington, President Bush said it was unclear who triggered the attack. But he thanked the Saudi government for its quick response, and expressed condolences to the families of the fallen Saudi guardsmen.
The attack is the latest in a series of assaults targeting foreigners in the kingdom over the past 18 months. The U.S. State Department has issued a series of travel warnings in the past year, urging all non-essential Americans to leave the country.