Clashes ... an armoured vehicle is seen in the streets of Awamiya, where four people under suspicion of terrorism were killed by police. Picture: Twitter Source: Supplied

During a shootout in Awamiya, “four terrorists, including the primary suspect in the shooting of soldier Abdelaziz bin Ahmed al-Assiri, were killed,” the spokesman was quoted by the official SPA news agency as saying in a statement on Saturday.

One policeman was wounded.

Under fire ... canisters, allegedly used by Saudi forces, are seen on the streets of Awamiya. Picture: Twitter Source: Supplied

Assiri died on Sunday when officers came under fire from farms near Awamiya.

The village, just west of Dammam city on the Gulf coast, has witnessed clashes between security forces of the Sunni-dominated kingdom and protesters from the minority Shi’ite community.

In February, a firefight in Awamiya left two policemen and two suspects dead. Other shootings have occurred there in subsequent months.

Most Saudi Shi’ites live in the oil-rich east, and many complain of marginalisation.

Since 2011, protests and sporadic attacks on security forces have occurred in Shi’ite areas, leaving around 20 Shi’ite youths dead.

Activists say several death sentences have also been handed down by courts in the kingdom since the demonstrations began.