Islamic militants attack the U.S. Consulate in Saudi Arabia

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from The Washington Post article "U.S. Consulate in Saudi Arabia Attacked."

The U.S. Consulate in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia was attacked by Islamic militants today, Dec. 6, causing a three-hour gun battle that left three attackers and five non-American consulate workers dead, according to The Washington Post.

The attack began around 11:15 a.m., when five gunmen threw explosives at the consulate gate and then forced their way inside, a State Department official told The Washington Post.

One contract security guard and four local consulate staff members were killed in the assault. Four other local employees were injured. One American received slight "scrapes and bruises," according to the same U.S. Department official, possibly as a result of a U.S. personnel evacuation.

Once the assailants entered the compound, Saudi security regained control, killing three of them and arresting two others after they were wounded.

U.S Embassy spokesperson Carol Kalin said that all American employees were safe and none were being held hostage.

The Washington Post reported that it was uncertain who the attackers were, but in a meeting with the visiting interim president Ghazi Yawar at the White House, President Bush said the U.S. anticipates learning more from Saudi interrogations of the detained militants.

"The attacks in Saudi Arabia remind us that the terrorists are still on the move," said Bush at the White House meeting. "They're interested in affecting the will of free countries. They want us to leave Saudi Arabia. They want us to leave Iraq. They want us to grow timid and weary in the face of their willingness to kill randomly and kill innocent people. And that's why these elections are very important." He continued about the Iraqi elections scheduled for Jan. 30 and said that he believes they should not be postponed.