Ayed Farhan Al-Shammari, a National Guard officer, who was injured during a gunbattle with the militants, died at Yanbu General Hospital Monday. Twenty-five Saudis and expatriates were also injured during the shootings.

Recalling the details of the incident, an Interior Ministry spokesman said four militants from a 15-member terror cell stormed the headquarters of a Saudi contractor in Yanbu and opened fire on workers indiscriminately.

The militants fled the area when they saw security officers and took refuge in a residential district after seizing cars of citizens by force. Police killed three of the militants and arrested a fourth.

Two Americans, two Britons and an Australian were killed in the attack.

The trial, which opened Monday, was a low-key affair. Anticipation that the militants, who had carried out several terrorist attacks, would be handcuffed when brought for trial proved ill-founded. There were neither handcuffs nor leg-shackles and the defendants appeared before the court wearing simple thobes and seemed to be in excellent medical condition with every sign of having been well-treated.

The trial took place in a large modern hall in the presence of reporters. There was no obvious security above what would normally be present for a court hearing — just four security officers, and there were no extra police in view to protect the judges.

The 11 defendants sat in the first of four rows while reporters sat just behind them.

The trial began at 10 a.m. with a brief statement by the judge who said the court would look into the case of the terrorist attack on Yanpet company on May 1, 2004. The public prosecutor then read out the charges against the militants involved in the attack.

The judge said the defendants would have the right to appoint a lawyer. If the militants were unable to afford one, the court would appoint a defense lawyer and the state would pay their fees. The militants will also have the right to have a copy of the 48-page legal proceedings.

All the defendants agreed to answer questions in writing and to appoint lawyers to defend them. However, one of the defendants said he was ready to answer the accusations leveled against him personally.

Immediately after a prayer break with ten of the accused returned to jail, the judge recorded what the militant had to say in response to the charges. The four-and-a-half hour hearing concluded at 2:30 p.m. with the presiding judge setting June 13 as the date for the next hearing.