Unidentified gunmen shot dead an American in the Saudi capital of Riyadh today.
Gunmen driving a Lexus car fired at the American before fleeing in an eastern suburb of Riyadh, security sources said.
The man worked for Vinnel, a unit of US aerospace company Northrop Grumman which helps train the Saudi National Guard - an elite security force for the pro-US monarchy.
Today's shooting comes a week after al Qaeda militants killed 22 people, 19 of them foreigners, in a shooting and hostage-taking spree in the oil city of Khobar. The assault helped push oil prices to record highs before producers vowed to raise output.
At least 80 civilians and police have been killed since May last year in a string of al-Qaeda suicide bombings and attacks. Police have killed or arrested nine top militants.
The British embassy has advised its 30,000 nationals against non-essential travel to the kingdom. Some 35,000 Americans live in Saudi Arabia and last month Washington urged them to leave.