RIYADH, August 28, 2009 (AFP) - Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, a member of the Saudi royal family who is responsible for the kingdom's anti-terror fight, escaped a suicide bomb attack in Jeddah, official news agency SPA said Friday.

The deputy interior minister suffered only superficial injuries after the suicide bomber got close to him and detonated his explosives on Thursday evening, the agency said quoting a royal court statement.

The Saudi wing of Al-Qaeda was swift in claiming responsibility.

In a statement posted on an Islamist website late Thursday, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula said it was behind the bomb, according to the US-based monitoring group, SITE Intelligence.

The bomber was the only casualty. Prince Mohammed was receiving guests at the end of the day's fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, SPA said.

The royal court said the bomber was a wanted terrorist who had approached the prince under the pretext he wanted to give himself up.

Saudi television showed images of the prince after the attack. The anti-terror chief did not seem affected by his ordeal.