Dubai: In unprecedented terror strikes in Saudi Arabia by suspected al-Qaida suicide bombers, at least 20 people, half of them Americans, were killed and scores, including nine Indians, injured in Riyadh, hours before the arrival of US Secretary of State Colin Powell on May 13.

Diplomatic sources in Riyadh said the overall casualties due to the attacks on three residential compounds housing foreign workers and a Saudi-US commercial establishment late on May 12 night could be about 100.

"Right now it seems as if we have lost 10 Americans and many other lives were lost from many other nationalities," Powell said on his arrival in Riyadh on a scheduled visit from Jordan.

Reports said among the dead were a 39-year-old Australian, three Saudis, including son of Riyadh's Deputy Governor Abdullah al-Balaihed, a Palestinian-born Lebanese man, a Palestinian-American and two children whose nationalities were not known.

Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Talmiz Ahmed said nine Indians so far reported to have been injured. Out of this, eight have been discharged after first aid while one Ahmed Munir was still in hospital.

He said teams of officials have been sent to various hospitals and the affected sites to ascertain if there were more Indian casualties.

PTI