American shot dead in Saudi capital

Militants shot the man as he drove into the garage at his Riyadh home. He was the third Westerner killed in Saudi Arabia in a week.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Gunmen killed an American in the Saudi capital Saturday, shooting him as he pulled into his garage at home, witnesses said, in the third slaying of a Westerner in the kingdom in a week.

Three militants shot the American in the back as he drove his car into the garage in Riyadh's Malaz district, then they moved in and fired more shots from a short distance, witnesses said.

The chief of police in Riyadh said a "resident holding the American nationality" was killed in the capital's Malaz district Saturday afternoon, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

U.S. Ambassador James Oberwetter expressed his condolences to the families of the past week's victims. "Those Americans who choose to remain here should exercise the utmost caution as they go about their daily life," Oberwetter said.

"I applaud Saudi Arabia's determination to bring an end to terrorism in the kingdom," he added.

The Saudi government, which launched a high-profile campaign against terrorists after suicide bombings last year, has blamed the attacks on people inspired by, or belonging to, the al-Qaida terror network led by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.

Terror experts have noted that the militants are using several tactics - including shootings and ambushes where the gunmen do not die - rather than limiting themselves to suicide bombings or swift attacks under the cover of darkness.

They are also trying to avoid killing Muslims. The death of several Muslims and Arabs in a November compound attack in Riyadh horrified many Muslims - something that could seriously affect recruiting efforts.

The United States has urged its citizens to leave the kingdom and the British Foreign Office has advised Britons against nonessential travel to Saudi Arabia.

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