Saudi Arabia's state news agency says 85 suspected al-Qaida members have gone on trial in a Riyadh court in connection with attacks against the kingdom, including a deadly 2003 terrorist attack.

The SPA news agency said Sunday that some of the defendants are charged with carrying out car bombings on three Riyadh housing compounds for foreigners that killed 35 people, including nine Americans. Others are charged with attacking security forces, weapons possession, bomb making and armed robbery.

The news agency said the arrests of the 85 suspects have foiled plots to bomb two air bases and a residential compound in an eastern province of the Gulf state.