Five Saudi policemen have been killed during a shooting spree by a gunman whom security sources said was a wanted insurgent and who was later arrested.

An Interior Ministry statement, on the official Saudi Press Agency, said a man was arrested after shooting three policemen on Tuesday at a checkpoint in the ultra-conservative northern Qassim province, site of several shootouts with al-Qaida-linked fighters.

Earlier, the same gunman had killed two policemen on patrol near the northern town of Buraida.

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television named the man as Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Suweilmi and said he was on a list of 36 wanted insurgents linked to al-Qaida.

It said al-Suweilmi was an internet specialist who had helped the Saudi wing of al-Qaida post statements on the Web.

The Interior Ministry statement said he had been wounded during his arrest. It said more details would be provided later.

"He is considered as one of the terrorist leaders," said a source. It was not clear if the man was alone in the vehicle or had accomplices.   

The last major attacks took place nearly a year ago and security forces have since killed several leading insurgents in clashes.

According to the latest official figures, at least 90 civilians, 49 security personnel and 118 insurgents have died since the unrest began. Hundreds more have been wounded. 

PHOTO CAPTION

Saudi security forces keep position as they exchange fire with Al-Qaeda suspects in the eastern oil city of Dammam, September 2005. (AFP)