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Rice embarks on new Mid-East tour Rice embarks on new Mid-East tour
(40 minutes later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is travelling to the Middle East, in an effort to revive the peace process. United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is travelling to the Middle East in an effort to revive the peace process in the region.
Ms Rice is to visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories. She will visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories.
It is her first visit to the region since the end of the month-long conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militants in August. It is Ms Rice' s first visit to the region since the end of the month-long conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militants in August.
The secretary of state was widely criticised for failing to call for an immediate end to the fighting.The secretary of state was widely criticised for failing to call for an immediate end to the fighting.
BBC state department correspondent Jonathan Beale says President George W Bush wants to show that even if America's image is tarnished in the region, it is still actively engaged in bringing about a lasting peace. BBC state department correspondent Jonathan Beale says President George W Bush wants to show that even if the image of the US is tarnished in the region, it is still actively engaged in bringing about a lasting peace.
President Bush may want to revive the peace process, but it is hard to see how href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5398282.stm" class="">Rice courts moderate Arabs 'Dim prospects'
Ms Rice will focus her efforts on talking to what the Bush administration terms "the voices of Muslim moderation" our correspondent adds. Ms Rice will focus her efforts on talking to what the Bush administration terms "the voices of Muslim moderation".
A spokesman said she would discuss the threats to stability from Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.A spokesman said she would discuss the threats to stability from Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.
On Friday Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he hoped to meet the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, for a summit within days. President Bush may want to revive the peace process, but it is hard to see how href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5398282.stm" class="">Rice courts moderate Arabs
It would be their first formal summit since Mr Olmert took over as Israeli leader from Ariel Sharon in January. But hopes of achieving any agreement between Israel and the Palestinians still look dim and distant, our correspondent says.
In the same month, the militant movement Hamas, which is sworn to Israel's destruction, won Palestinian parliamentary elections and Israel froze contacts. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been weakened by the recent war with Hezbollah and so has his negotiating position.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas still cannot persuade Hamas to recognise Israel and, without that, the Americans will not even contemplate talking to Hamas.
On Friday, Mr Olmert said he hoped to meet Mr Abbas for a summit within days - their first formal talks since Mr Olmert took over as Israeli leader from Ariel Sharon in January.