A Saudi soldier was killed on Sunday in what state news agency SPA described as a "foiled attempt to carry out a terrorist attack" in the central province of Taif. Two assailants opened fire on a security checkpoint before retreating to a mountain village called Thaqeef where a gunbattle killed the soldier, named as private Saeed al-Harithy, SPA said. Troops found an explosive vest and bomb making material and the security operation was ongoing, SPA added. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/208312.aspx