MAKKAH, 2 March 2008 — A Saudi youth stabbed his 35-year-old neighbor to death yesterday in the Al-Mujahideen Street area of Makkah following a prolonged dispute, said a spokesman for Makkah police.

Following the attack, the 25-year-old surrendered himself at a local police station, said Maj. Zaki Al-Ruhaily. On the night before the murder, local people saw the two men quarrelling, which led to a physical fight that was brought to an end after intervention by passersby. The pair then resumed their quarrel shortly after dawn prayers.

The Saudi youth told police that he attacked the other man because he found him behaving in a suspicious manner at the door of his house when he returned from dawn prayers yesterday.

The man was discovered lying in a pool of blood by his brother, who took him to hospital. An investigation is under way.