RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—A Saudi security official says two people were killed during a raid to arrest a wanted man in an oil-rich region that's been the scene of unrest by the country's Shiite minority.

The clash in the Qatif area comes as Saudi authorities try to root out suspected leaders of the protesters. Shiites claim they face discrimination and other abuses at the hands of the Sunni monarchy.

The official Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday that the wanted man and a fellow gunman were killed during a gun battle. The report, citing an unnamed security official, says agents had traced them to a house on Wednesday.

More than a dozen people have been killed in clashes since late last year in Qatif, the kingdom's main oil export hub.