RIYADH, Dec 5: A convicted Saudi Arabian murderer was spared execution after tribal sheikhs persuaded his victim’s father to accept five million riyals (1.33 million dollars) in return for his life.

Al Watan newspaper said 22-year-old Saeed bin Manea al Harith killed Abdallah bin Jakhdab al Kawal after an argument at work last year.

Thousands of men from the convicted murderer’s tribe besieged the Kawal family house in Dhahran at dawn on Thursday to try to save him from his punishment.

After several hours of talks, Kawal’s father, overruling the wishes of his wife, agreed to spare the killer. He originally demanded 10 million riyals compensation, along with 10 cars and 10 daggers, the paper said. —Reuters