Saudi security forces killed an activist and injured another in the village of Awamiya in the Eastern Province.

Saudi security forces killed an activist and injured another in the village of Awamiya in the Eastern Province.

Basem Ali Mohammed al-Gidaihi "died yesterday (Saturday) afternoon," interior ministry spokesman General Mansur al-Turki told AFP.

Gidaihi was taken to hospital after the shooting in the village of Awamiya, the scene of past clashes with pro-democracy protesters, but suffered a "setback" following initial treatment, the official Saudi Press Agency said, citing doctors.

An associate of the suspect was in stable condition after being wounded in the attack, the doctors added.

Awamiya is just west of Dammam city in oil-rich Eastern Province.

Saudi Arabia's estimated two million Shiites, who have complained of marginalization, live mostly in the east where the vast majority of the OPEC kingpin's huge oil reserves lie.

Demonstrations in Eastern Province erupted in 2011 alongside a pro-democracy protest movement in neighboring Bahrain.