RIYADH- Saudi police have detained four people in a city in the country's eastern region, which is home to the kingdom's Shi'ite Muslim minority, for supporting Hezbollah, residents said on Tuesday.

The detentions on Saturday and Sunday were the first since August, when seven Saudi Shi'ites were arrested in the same area after peaceful demonstrations backing Hezbollah during its war with Israel.

The four were arrested in the city of Qatif and the neighbouring village of al-Jaroudia, the residents said.

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"Two were arrested after they took part in a traditional Ramadan celebration during which they brandished a Hezbollah banner and chanted slogans glorifying (Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan) Nasrallah," said one resident, who asked not to be named.

Interior ministry officials could not be reached immediately for comment.

Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally, fears the rising influence of Shi'ite power in Iran and in the Arab world. It has criticized Israeli military action in Lebanon but has also blamed the Iranian-backed Hezbollah for provoking the crisis.

A Shi'ite Web site also reported the arrests and carried pictures of two of those detained. It identified one of them as Muslim al-Dar and said he heads a recognized charity group in al-Jaroudia.

Mohammed abu Abdullah, a Sunni, was arrested after police raided his home and found a picture of Nasrallah hung on a wall, the Web site said.

Saudi Arabia regards itself as the bastion of Sunni Islam.