Firefight breaks out in Saudi Arabia's restive Eastern Province

A firefight raged in Saudi Arabia's restive Eastern Province between a suspected militant and police officers during a raid on Friday. 

The was wanted in connection with alleged "terrorism" activities was shot dead and a police officer wounded in the firefight, the interior ministry.

The incident in the Qatif area of the kingdom's predominantly Shia, oil-rich region late Thursday saw the suspect open fire after refusing to surrender to security forces, a ministry spokesman said. 

Police fired back, resulting in the man's death. The official SPA news agency reported that one officer was hospitalised after the altercation. 

Thursday's shooting comes days after the killing by an unknown assailant of a policeman in Qatif, according to the ministry. 

At least nine police have been shot dead since 2014 in and around Qatif.