Saudi Arabia arrests 11 al Qaeda-linked militants
(Adds details, background)
RIYADH, April 7 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it had arrested 11 al Qaeda-linked militants, seizing arms and breaking up a cell that planned to carry out attacks and kidnappings.
Police arrested members of the group in several areas, including in a region near the border with Yemen, seizing arms and ammunition, Saudi media quoted the interior ministry as saying.
State television showed footage of security forces digging out bags containing assault rifles and other weapons hidden in a mountainous area.
Group members, all Saudis, planned attacks on security forces, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television said.
Al Qaeda's wing in Yemen, widely seen as a militant stronghold, said in January it would become active across the Arabian Peninsula, in a move to revive al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter.
Saudi Arabia has battled Islamist militants who launched a violent campaign to destabilise the U.S.-allied monarchy in 2003. The violence has subsided since 2006 after nearly 200 people, including foreign residents, security forces and militants were killed.
The Saudi government has arrested hundreds of suspects over the past year, and in February issued a list of 85 wanted militants believed to be overseas. (Writing by Firouz Sedarat)
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