Riyadh, Dec 07: Saudi Arabia issued the names and photos of its 26 most wanted terrorist suspects and increased protection around western housing compounds in the capital as the United States upgraded its security warning, restricting its diplomats' movements. The new US warning yesterday ordered embassy and consulate staff not to leave the heavily guarded diplomatic quarters in Riyadh and other cities, except for essential duties.

The steps came days after the United States and Britain warned that militants were scoping out western residence complexes for a possible new terrorist attack following two suicide bombings on compounds this year that killed a total of 52 people. Separately, an American and a Briton have been detained by Saudi authorities in Jiddah, the US and British Embassies said yesterday, but embassy officials said they did not know the reason. A state-controlled newspaper identified the American as the brother of two people who have pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiring to help al-Qaeda.

A US diplomat declined to say if the new restrictions on diplomats' movements were in response to a specific terrorist threat. Saudi security forces have strongly defended the Riyadh diplomatic quarter, an area of about five square miles west of the city, since suicide bombers attacked three housing compounds for foreigners in the capital on May 12. Bureau Report