A security official says a Saudi soldier who was part of the troops deployed to Bahrain to help the tiny island nation deal with the Shia-led opposition uprising has been shot dead by a protester in the capital, Manama.

The Saudi official says the shooting took place on Tuesday when a person from the crowd of protesters shot at the Saudi troops. The official says the victim, Ahmed Al-Raddadi, was a sergeant in the Saudi military. No other details were immediately available.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.

A 1,000-strong force from Saudi Arabia and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council arrived in Bahrain on Monday.