Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage was in Riyadh for talks on Iraq and the war on terrorism, but was not hurt in the attack.

A Saudi official said the bombing was the sixth attempt at such a "terrorist attack" in a week. Five others were foiled.

The low fatality figure contrasted with earlier reports that at least 10 persons, including a senior officer, were killed.

Witnesses saw the body of the suicide bomber charred inside the vehicle.

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Saudi police said last weekend that they seized three booby-trapped Sport Utility Vehicles loaded with more than four tons of explosives. The vehicles had apparently been abandoned by militants involved in a shootout with security forces.