Abdulwahab al-Shehri told Okaz newspaper that his uncle, Abdulhadi Mohammad al-Shehri, 28, was killed along with two other unnamed Saudis in the middle of the week.

Shehri said the family was informed of the death by a fourth Saudi volunteer who was still fighting in Baghdad.

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz said earlier this month that Riyadh had no information about Saudi men traveling to Baghdad to fight against US-British forces, but could not deny reports.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has allowed some 40 Saudi families who have been living in southern Iraq before the US-led war to return home, Prince Nayef said.

The first group of 130, who include Iraqi wives of Saudis, were to arrive Saturday through the Saudi-Kuwaiti border post at Reggei. The remaining 270 people were to follow.

SPACE.WIRE