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US 'aims to help' Mid-East allies US 'aims to help' Mid-East allies
(about 1 hour later)
The US will help its allies in the Middle East meet their security needs and counter the growing power of Iran, the US secretary of state has said.The US will help its allies in the Middle East meet their security needs and counter the growing power of Iran, the US secretary of state has said.
Condoleezza Rice met key Arab allies a day after announcing arms deals worth $63bn (£31bn) for a host of Middle Eastern states.Condoleezza Rice met key Arab allies a day after announcing arms deals worth $63bn (£31bn) for a host of Middle Eastern states.
She visited Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates.She visited Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates.
The pair are in the region seeking to convince allies to help stabilise Iraq and counter Iran's influence there.The pair are in the region seeking to convince allies to help stabilise Iraq and counter Iran's influence there.
They met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Arab ministers at the start of a tour also aimed at uniting US allies against Iran, Syria and Hezbollah.They met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Arab ministers at the start of a tour also aimed at uniting US allies against Iran, Syria and Hezbollah.
It is also trying to win support for a Mid-East peace conference planned for later this year, correspondents say.It is also trying to win support for a Mid-East peace conference planned for later this year, correspondents say.
Both Ms Rice and Mr Gates will visit Saudi Arabia - which is expected to receive a share of $20bn (£10bn) in military aid - before the secretary of state continues onto Israel and the West Bank.Both Ms Rice and Mr Gates will visit Saudi Arabia - which is expected to receive a share of $20bn (£10bn) in military aid - before the secretary of state continues onto Israel and the West Bank.
Shared concernsShared concerns
Before arriving in Sharm el-Sheikh, Ms Rice described Iran as "the single most important, single-country challenge" to US interests in the Middle East.Before arriving in Sharm el-Sheikh, Ms Rice described Iran as "the single most important, single-country challenge" to US interests in the Middle East.
The United States is determined to assure our allies that we are going to be reliable in helping them to meet their security needs Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State Iran spurs US move In Egypt, she said the US was making sure its allies in the region were well protected, after Iran accused the US of trying to spread fear and mistrust.The United States is determined to assure our allies that we are going to be reliable in helping them to meet their security needs Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State Iran spurs US move In Egypt, she said the US was making sure its allies in the region were well protected, after Iran accused the US of trying to spread fear and mistrust.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini has accused the US of tarnishing good relations between countries in the region.Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini has accused the US of tarnishing good relations between countries in the region.
"The United States is determined to assure our allies that we are going to be reliable in helping them to meet their security needs," Ms Rice said."The United States is determined to assure our allies that we are going to be reliable in helping them to meet their security needs," Ms Rice said.
She met Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, saying their discussions focused on Iraq, Lebanon, and the prospects for a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians.She met Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, saying their discussions focused on Iraq, Lebanon, and the prospects for a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians.
MIDDLE EAST TOUR Ms Rice is due to stop off in the following places: EgyptTuesday: meeting ministers from the Gulf Co-operation Council, as well as Egyptian President Hosni MubarakSaudi ArabiaTuesday: meeting King Abdullah to discuss Iraq and other issuesIsraelWednesday: meeting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Shimon Peres and other senior ministersWest BankWednesday-Thursday: talks with President Mahmoud AbbasMIDDLE EAST TOUR Ms Rice is due to stop off in the following places: EgyptTuesday: meeting ministers from the Gulf Co-operation Council, as well as Egyptian President Hosni MubarakSaudi ArabiaTuesday: meeting King Abdullah to discuss Iraq and other issuesIsraelWednesday: meeting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Shimon Peres and other senior ministersWest BankWednesday-Thursday: talks with President Mahmoud Abbas
And she insisted that Iraq's neighbours understood the need to bolster the government in Baghdad.And she insisted that Iraq's neighbours understood the need to bolster the government in Baghdad.
The BBC's Heba Saleh, in Sharm el-Sheikh, says the Arab countries at the meeting share America's displeasure at Iran's rising influence in Iraq and in the region.The BBC's Heba Saleh, in Sharm el-Sheikh, says the Arab countries at the meeting share America's displeasure at Iran's rising influence in Iraq and in the region.
If there was any note of discord at Tuesday's talks, that was kept behind the scenes, she adds.If there was any note of discord at Tuesday's talks, that was kept behind the scenes, she adds.
Iran's nuclear programme and influence among Shia Muslim militant groups have long been sources of US concern.Iran's nuclear programme and influence among Shia Muslim militant groups have long been sources of US concern.
Arms dealsArms deals
The regional visits come after Washington confirmed plans for massive arms deals for the region.The regional visits come after Washington confirmed plans for massive arms deals for the region.
The main beneficiaries of the deals are Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.The main beneficiaries of the deals are Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The $30bn aid to Israel over 10 years represents a 25% increase from present levels.The $30bn aid to Israel over 10 years represents a 25% increase from present levels.
US ARMS DEAL BENEFICIARIES Israel - $30bnEgypt - $13bnSaudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and UAE - to share $20bn class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7031&start=0&edition=1&ttl=20070731094019">Send us your comments US ARMS DEAL BENEFICIARIES Israel - $30bnEgypt - $13bnSaudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and UAE - to share $20bn
The Jewish state said the package would allow it to maintain its military "qualitative edge" in the region.The Jewish state said the package would allow it to maintain its military "qualitative edge" in the region.
The sale of satellite-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia, the first such sale to any Arab country, is thought to be part of the proposed $20bn arms deal with the kingdom and five other Gulf states - the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.The sale of satellite-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia, the first such sale to any Arab country, is thought to be part of the proposed $20bn arms deal with the kingdom and five other Gulf states - the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
While in the region, Ms Rice and Mr Gates are expected to ask Saudi King Abdullah to do more to support the Iraqi government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.While in the region, Ms Rice and Mr Gates are expected to ask Saudi King Abdullah to do more to support the Iraqi government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.
The US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, has gone as far as accusing Saudi Arabia of undermining efforts to stabilise Iraq. HAVE YOUR SAY The people in the Middle East need reconciliation not militarisation Weah Williams, Washington class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7031&start=0&edition=1&ttl=20070731094019">Send us your comments The US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, has gone as far as accusing Saudi Arabia of undermining efforts to stabilise Iraq.
The weapons deals need to be approved by Congress, and appear set to encounter Democratic opposition in Congress.The weapons deals need to be approved by Congress, and appear set to encounter Democratic opposition in Congress.