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Rice seeks Saudi backing on Iraq Rice seeks Saudi backing on Iraq
(about 8 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in Saudi Arabia as she tries to rally support for Washington's latest plans to try to stabilise Iraq. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has held talks with top officials in Saudi Arabia to try to rally support for US plans to try to stabilise Iraq.
She was due to hold talks with top Saudi officials in the capital Riyadh. On Monday, she got Egypt's support for the plan to send more troops to Iraq.
Earlier she secured Egypt's approval for the new policy, which involves sending 21,500 more US troops to Iraq.
Ms Rice has also met Jordanian, Israeli and Palestinian heads on her tour of the Middle East, and announced plans for a US-Israeli-Palestinian summit.Ms Rice has also met Jordanian, Israeli and Palestinian heads on her tour of the Middle East, and announced plans for a US-Israeli-Palestinian summit.
The summit, planned for three or four weeks' time, will examine ways to accelerate the so-called 2003 roadmap for peace. The summit, planned in three or four weeks, will examine ways to speed up the so-called 2003 roadmap for peace.
Ms Rice said she hoped talks would ultimately lead to a Palestinian state.Ms Rice said she hoped talks would ultimately lead to a Palestinian state.
Regional fearsRegional fears
The Israeli-Palestinian issue was under discussion in Egypt on Monday, along with the situation in Iraq.The Israeli-Palestinian issue was under discussion in Egypt on Monday, along with the situation in Iraq.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit told Ms Rice that Egypt would give its full support to Washington's latest plans for Iraq, and hoped they would succeed.Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit told Ms Rice that Egypt would give its full support to Washington's latest plans for Iraq, and hoped they would succeed.
In Luxor, southern Egypt, Mr Abul Gheit said he hoped the plan would lead to the "dismantlement of whatever terror organisations or militias are tormenting the Iraqi scene".In Luxor, southern Egypt, Mr Abul Gheit said he hoped the plan would lead to the "dismantlement of whatever terror organisations or militias are tormenting the Iraqi scene".
Ms Rice thanked Egypt for being a "positive force" behind the strategy.Ms Rice thanked Egypt for being a "positive force" behind the strategy.
BBC Middle East correspondent Ian Pannell in Cairo says that despite harsh criticism in the region of the way Washington has conducted itself, many share the US fear of what failure in Iraq will mean.BBC Middle East correspondent Ian Pannell in Cairo says that despite harsh criticism in the region of the way Washington has conducted itself, many share the US fear of what failure in Iraq will mean.
He says Egypt echoed concerns in the Arab world about the growing influence of Iran, making a thinly veiled swipe at what it called the interventions of certain people in Iraqi affairs.He says Egypt echoed concerns in the Arab world about the growing influence of Iran, making a thinly veiled swipe at what it called the interventions of certain people in Iraqi affairs.