JEDDAH, 6 December 2003 — A convicted Saudi murderer was spared execution after tribal leaders persuaded his victim’s father to accept SR5 million ($1.33 million) in return for his life.

Al-Watan newspaper said 22-year-old Saeed ibn Manie killed Abdullah ibn Jakhdab Salim after an argument at work last year.

Thousands of men from the convicted murderer’s tribe besieged the Salim family house in south Dhahran at dawn on Thursday to try to save him from his punishment.

After several hours of talks Abdullah’s father, overruling the wishes of his wife, agreed to spare the killer. He originally demanded SR10 million in blood money, along with 10 cars and 10 daggers, the paper said.