Riyadh, April 4 (Reuters): Saudi troops have killed eight gunmen and wounded another in a protracted siege in the northern town of Al-Ras, where fierce gunbattles raged for a second day with suspected militants, security sources said.

A hospital official said 51 security personnel had been treated by 0900 GMT today in one of the longest and bloodiest battles in Saudi Arabia?s two-year confrontation with al Qaida supporters.