Two Canadian brothers who lived in Montreal are in custody in Saudi Arabia in connection with a death in a schoolyard brawl.

An official with Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs says the department is offering assistance to the pair, who face murder charges and have spent months in jail in Jeddah.

The Globe and Mail is identifying the two as Mohamed Kohail, 22, and his brother Sultan, 16.

The brothers are facing charges in connection with a fight that killed Munzer Haraki.

The fight erupted when the older brother came to Sultan's defence in a dispute between students of Palestinian and Syrian origin.

Mohamed Kohail tells the newspaper he fears they could be put to death.