Saudi Arabia has detained 10 people accused of spying for its Shi'ite Muslim regional rival Iran after arresting 18 people in the same case in March, state media reported on Tuesday. The Sunni Muslim kingdom, the world's top oil exporter, accuses the Islamic Republic of stirring unrest among minority Saudi Shi'ites. Tehran rejects that charge and has also denied any involvement in espionage in Saudi Arabia.
"Initial investigation carried out by the authorities led to the detention of 10 others for involvement in spying activities," Saudi Press Agency quoted Interior Ministry security spokesman Major-General Mansour al-Turki as saying. He said they included eight Saudis, a Turk and a Lebanese citizen. Those arrested in March included 16 Saudis and an Iranian. A Lebanese man also detained at that time has been released for lack of evidence, Turki said.