JEDDAH, June 27: Foreign envoys asked Saudi Arabia on Sunday to upgrade its security forces to combat a wave of Al Qaeda-linked attacks against Westerners and other expatriates in the world's largest oil exporter.

US Ambassador James Oberwetter listed the demands after a four-hour meeting with senior Saudi officials and representatives of 11 countries in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. "We want a better exchange of information between the information and interior ministries and the expat community," he told a news conference.

"We also want better training for the security forces, better equipment for the security forces and an improvement of checkpoints," he said, adding that there were calls for Saudi Arabia to allow additional foreign forces to "train and mentor" the kingdom's security forces which have US military trainers.

At least 85 police and civilians, many of them foreigners, have been killed in suicide bombings and shootings by militants loyal to Al Qaeda, which is bent on toppling the kingdom's pro-US monarchy.

Earlier this month, an Al Qaeda cell kidnapped and then beheaded US contractor Paul Johnson just weeks after 22 people were killed in a shooting and hostage-taking spree in the deadliest attack so far in Al Qaeda's year-long battle.

The United States and Britain have warned their 65,000 citizens in Saudi Arabia to leave the kingdom, citing the possibility of further militant attacks.

Saudi security forces killed Al Qaeda's Saudi leader and three senior militants shortly after Johnson's beheading but last week, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said the threat of terror attacks remained.

Oberwetter said the kingdom and its ally Washington were cooperating closely on combating terror, but added: "There are dangerous threats towards Westerners and we look forward to the future when these threats are no longer there."

Saudi Arabia has said it would allow foreign residents to bear arms for their protection.

Diplomats said in addition to Oberwetter, envoys attended from Mexico, Australia, EU President Ireland, South Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and Argentina Mexico.-Reuters