RIYADH, Aug 11: Saudi security forces shot dead a wanted militant in Makkah on Wednesday after he threw a grenade at them, the interior ministry said.

A policeman was lightly wounded in the clash, the ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Police had tried to persuade the militant to surrender, but were forced to open fire after he hurled the grenade, a security source told Reuters. He said the man was not on a Saudi list of 26 most wanted Islamic militants, 12 of whom are still on the run.