France advised Monday its citizens to avoid travelling to Saudi Arabia after one Frenchman was shot dead on Sunday in the country.

"Given the increase in attacks since April and in the context of an elevated terrorist threat, travelers planning to go to the kingdom are advised to delay their trip for the moment except for imperative professional reasons," the French Foreign Ministry saidin a statement posted on its website.

About 4,500 French citizens have registered in French consulates in Saudi Arabia, said French Foreign Ministry spokesmanHerve Ladsous.

He added that the French citizens ought to "abide by very strict security rules established by the embassy."

Laurent Barbot, 45, a technician of the French defense electronics group Thales, was killed early on Sunday in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Saudi commercial capital.

Source: Xinhua