Three Saudis wanted for presumed involvement in unrest in Shia areas of the kingdom's Eastern Province turned themselves in on Tuesday and two others were arrested, Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry has said.
Ministry spokesman General Mansur Turki, quoted by state news agency SPA, urged another two dozen wanted fugitives to give themselves up.
On Monday, Saudi authorities announced the names of 23 men wanted for involvement in trouble during the past few months in the Eastern Province.
The group is accused of "possessing illegal firearms and opening fire on the public and police, in addition to using innocent people as shields," the Interior Ministry said.
The fugitives are suspected of taking part in "mobs, blocking traffic (and) damaging public and private property" during sporadic confrontations between police and Shia protesters.
In March, protests shook the Eastern Province as Shias took to the street denouncing military intervention to back a crackdown on a pro-democracy Shia movement in neighboring Bahrain.
A total of 385 people were arrested, of whom around 60 remain in custody, according to activists.
Saudi Arabia's estimated 2 million Shias mostly live in Eastern Province and complain of being marginalized in the oil-rich, Sunni-majority kingdom.
Four Shias were shot dead in November. Hinting at involvement by Saudi's arch rival, Iran, the Interior Ministry said security forces had come under fire from gunmen operating on "foreign orders."
