Dammam- Two people surrendered in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning, five years after their names were included in a list of 23 wanted terrorists announced by the Saudi Interior Ministry.

The two wanted men, Ramzi M. al-Jammal and Ali H. al-Zaid, turned themselves in voluntarily to the authorities.

Their surrender comes 18 days after another man, Mohammed bin Issa al-Labbad, surrendered to security forces.

So far, eight men of the 23 on the list have given themselves over to authorities and only three remain after the others were killed in firefights with security forces.

Salman al-Faraj, Fadel al-Safwani and Mohammed al-Zaid are still at large.

Eastern Province Governor Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received them as part of an initiative he had launched to persuade fugitives to surrender to the police.

Mohammed bin Isa bin Saleh al-Labbad, another fugitive wanted in a string of security cases, surrendered to the Saudi police on June 19.

The handing over of the two wanted persons took place in the presence of their family members; Ramzi Al Jamal was accompanied by his father and three of his brothers to the governorate of the Eastern Province while Ali Al Zayed was accompanied by his father and one of his relatives.

Indirect contacts between the citizens and the wanted persons continued for several days so that the suspects could take advantage of the initiative launched by Prince Saud Bin Naif during the reception he gave to the citizens of al-Awamiya last Ramadan.

The Emir opened the door of repentance for those who were misguided but did not commit any terrorist crimes against the security men and the citizens.

On the other hand, more than 300 religious, social and cultural figures issued a statement in Qudaih city in Qatif Sunday, calling on people to support and stand up for security men to protect the homeland and to confront those who want to undermine its security and stability.