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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 flew to the region a day after announcing arms deals worth $63bn (£31bn) for Middle East allies. | |
She visited Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, as they seek to convince allies to help stabilise Iraq and counter Iran. | |
But Syria and the Palestinian Hamas faction criticised US regional policy. | |
Ms Rice and Mr Gates 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. | |
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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6923347.stm">Iran spurs US move | |
They are also trying to win support for a Mid-East peace conference planned for later this year, correspondents say. | |
Syria's foreign minister said the arms deals were "dangerous", while Mahmoud Zahhar, a senior Hamas figure, said US peace conference plans were a waste of time. | |
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 concerns | Shared 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. |
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. | |
MIDDLE EAST TOUR Ms Rice is due to visit: 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 | |
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. |
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 deals | Arms 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. |
US ARMS DEAL BENEFICIARIES Israel - $30bnEgypt - $13bnSaudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and UAE - to share $20bn | |
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. |
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. |
HAVE YOUR SAY The people in the Middle East need reconciliation not militarisation Weah Williams, Washington Send us your comments | |
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. | |
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. |