Riyadh: A man killed in a shootout with Saudi police last week has been identified as Al Qaida operative.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior said on Friday that police shot dead a man at a checkpoint south of Riyadh after he opened fire on them.

Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al Turki said Monday that police are now sure the dead man is Mohammad Issam Tahir Al Baghdadi, an Al Qaida operative wanted for terrorist activities.

Al Baghdadi had earlier entered Saudi Arabia from neighbouring Yemen.

The ministry said that Al Baghdadi was disguised as woman when he was stopped at the checkpoint.