3 French travelers slain in Saudi desert

Three French travelers were killed by gunmen Monday in the Saudi Arabian desert when they stopped their car to rest on the side of a road leading to the holy city of Medina in an area restricted to Muslims only.

A fourth traveler was seriously wounded in the attack.

Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said it was too early to determine whether the attacks were terror-related. Saudi Arabia has been waging an intense campaign against al-Qaida militants since a wave of suicide attacks on foreigners in the kingdom in 2003.

"Undoubtedly this is a criminal act, but it's too early to determine their motives and whether it is terrorism," al-Turki said.

The travelers were resting on the side of a road about 10 miles north of Medina when gunmen fired at their car, instantly killing two of the men. The third man died later after he was taken to a hospital, and the fourth Frenchman was in serious condition at an area hospital, al-Turki said.

Women and children also were with the group but they were uninjured.

The area the group was traveling in is restricted for Muslims only. Non-Muslims are barred from the area around Medina and neighboring Mecca, the holiest cities in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, where he began spreading the message of Islam, until he fled to Medina. From Medina, he spread Islam until he died and was buried in the city. Muslims perform the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and usually visit Medina as well.

Al-Turki said the French travelers were probably Muslim pilgrims. But it was possible they were traveling to another ancient site north of Medina where the Saudi government recently started allowing non-Muslims to visit.

In France, Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said the French ambassador to Saudi Arabia and counsel general plan to visit the site of the attack and talk with Saudi authorities.

"I condemn this horrible act. I express my profound sympathy to the family and friends of the victims," Douste-Blazy said in a statement. "French authorities are mobilized along with the Saudi authorities, so that light be shed and that those responsible be detained and punished."