Saudi Arabia has tightened security around Western targets to prevent further deadly militant attacks as fears spread after a weekend rampage killed 22 civilians in the world's largest oil exporter.
Saudi leaders have moved to reassure the world about security as police continue their hunt for three militants who escaped a siege in the eastern city of Khobar, where four gunmen killed 22 people in a shooting and hostage-taking spree on Saturday and Sunday.
Security forces remained on high alert and police set up more checkpoints and roadblocks in the city and reinforced security at hotels, residential and business compounds and oil facilities.
The second strike in a month on the Saudi oil industry has heightened fears in the oil producing Eastern region that the militants might strike again. Some residents claimed to have spotted the fugitives in various locations in the area.
Riyadh vowed to deliver steady crude supplies. King Fahd, whose forces have been battling al Qaeda for more than a year, said militant attacks would not harm the economy.
The oil producers' cartel OPEC is meeting ub Beirut to discuss oil supplies. Saudi Arabia has proposed raising output limits to ease the high prices threatening to undermine economic growth.