Saudi authorities said Thursday that four people were killed in clashes between "rioters" and security forces in the kingdom's eastern region, DPA reported.
"A number of security checkpoints and vehicles in the (eastern) province of al-Qateef have been occasionally attacked by a number of rioters since Monday," said a source at the Saudi Interior Ministry.
Two civilians were killed and six injured late Wednesday in an exchange of fire, according to the source.
Two others were killed and three injured in clashes that erupted Thursday at a funeral of a man killed in an earlier incident, added the source.
All the casualties are Saudis, said the source.
"The Interior Ministry is aware that the aim of rioters is to fulfil dubious objectives dictated to them by their masters abroad in an attempt to drag citizens and security forces into absurd confrontations," said the ministry in a statement carried by the state news agency.
The oil-rich eastern region has a Shiite majority who has recently held several protests over alleged discrimination in the Sunni-majority kingdom.