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| Bush urges Middle East democracy | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| US President George W Bush has urged Middle Eastern leaders to work hard to advance democracy and civil liberties, and to isolate sponsors of terrorism. | |
| Mr Bush told the World Economic Forum in Sharm el-Sheikh that states needed to diversify their economies, invest in people and extend the reach of freedom. The president also called on the region to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to isolate Syria. | |
| On Saturday, he stressed his commitmentto securing a Middle East peace deal. | |
| Mr Bush made the remarks after holding talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Hosni Mubarak, and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at the Egyptian Red Sea resort. | |
| 'Much to do' | |
| Speaking at the end of a week-long tour of the region, Mr Bush said the Middle East could see advances in freedom and liberty if leaders acted with vision and resolve. | |
| "This region is home to energetic people, a powerful spirit of enterprise, and tremendous resources," he said. | |
| True democracy requires competitive elections in which opposition candidates are allowed to campaign without fear or intimidation US President George Bush | |
| "It is capable of a very bright future, a future in which the Middle East is a place of innovation and discovery, driven by free men and women." | |
| Mr Bush said politics in the region too often "consisted of one leader in power and the opposition in jail" and that the time had come for nations to "abandon these practices, and treat their people with the dignity and respect they deserve". | |
| "True democracy requires competitive elections in which opposition candidates are allowed to campaign without fear or intimidation." | |
| His fellow leaders also needed to make their economies more diverse, competitive and open, enact political reforms, allow freedom of speech and rule of law, improve education, and ensure greater participation by women and young men, he added. | |
| "There is much to do," Mr Bush said. "The future is in your hands - and freedom and peace are within your grasp." | |
| But he warned that "the light of liberty" was at risk from "spoilers such as the regimes in Iran and Syria", and called on the region to reject their policies. | |
| "To allow the world's leading sponsor of terror to gain the world's deadliest weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations," he said. | |
| Mr Bush also said Iran and Syria were fomenting sectarian conflict in Lebanon, where more than 60 people have been killed in recent days in clashes between fighters loyal to the pro-Western government and opposition supporters, led by the Shia Hezbollah movement. | |
| "It is now clearer than ever that Hezbollah militias are the enemy of a free Lebanon, and all nations, especially neighbours in the region, have an interest in helping the Lebanese people prevail," he said. | |
| Reform call | Reform call |
| Before he arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh, Mr Bush was criticised by Egypt's state-owned newspapers for "appeasing Israel" and hardly referring to Palestinians during a speech in Israel during its 60th anniversary celebrations last week. | Before he arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh, Mr Bush was criticised by Egypt's state-owned newspapers for "appeasing Israel" and hardly referring to Palestinians during a speech in Israel during its 60th anniversary celebrations last week. |
| Mr Bush is hoping for a lasting Middle East peace deal by the year's end | |
| He therefore spent much of Saturday working hard to convince the Arab world that he is "absolutely committed" to a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. | He therefore spent much of Saturday working hard to convince the Arab world that he is "absolutely committed" to a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. |
| "It'll be an opportunity to end the suffering that takes place in the Palestinian territories," he said after holding talks with Mr Abbas. | "It'll be an opportunity to end the suffering that takes place in the Palestinian territories," he said after holding talks with Mr Abbas. |
| "It breaks my heart to see the vast potential of the Palestinian people really wasted. They are good, smart capable people who when given a chance will build a thriving homeland," he added. | "It breaks my heart to see the vast potential of the Palestinian people really wasted. They are good, smart capable people who when given a chance will build a thriving homeland," he added. |
| "I commit to you once again that my government will help achieve a dream, a dream that you have, and the truth of matter is, a dream that the Israelis have, which is two states living side by side in peace." | "I commit to you once again that my government will help achieve a dream, a dream that you have, and the truth of matter is, a dream that the Israelis have, which is two states living side by side in peace." |
| Mr Bush had dinner with Mr Abbas on Saturday night. In their brief comments to the media ahead of the meal, there was no suggestion from Mr Abbas that he was losing faith or patience with the US. | Mr Bush had dinner with Mr Abbas on Saturday night. In their brief comments to the media ahead of the meal, there was no suggestion from Mr Abbas that he was losing faith or patience with the US. |
| Mr Abbas said he was confident of Mr Bush's dedication to the goal of a final deal. The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, did not attend the meetings although he did send a delegation. | |