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Barack Obama launches key Mid-East mission Barack Obama launches key Mid-East mission
(30 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has arrived in Saudi Arabia at the start of a Middle East tour aimed at increasing US engagement with the Islamic world.US President Barack Obama has arrived in Saudi Arabia at the start of a Middle East tour aimed at increasing US engagement with the Islamic world.
Mr Obama will spend a few hours in Riyadh before heading for Cairo, where he will make a keynote speech. Mr Obama will spend a few hours in Riyadh before heading for Egypt, where he will make a keynote speech in Cairo.
He says he wants to open dialogue with Muslims, overcome misapprehensions, and revive Middle East peace negotiations.He says he wants to open dialogue with Muslims, overcome misapprehensions, and revive Middle East peace negotiations.
Apart from a stop-over in Iraq in April, it is Mr Obama's first time in the region since becoming president.Apart from a stop-over in Iraq in April, it is Mr Obama's first time in the region since becoming president.
Barack Obama's goal is to improve perceptions of the US and to push for a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, says BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Jonathan Marcus. Barack Obama class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/world/americas/8079121.stm">hopes to set a new tone which is designed to isolate extremists in the region and re-establish the understanding the US gained after 9/11 and lost over Iraq, says the BBC's Paul Reynolds.
In the process he wants to make other US strategic goals in the region - like stability in Iraq and the containment of Iran - easier to achieve.
OBAMA'S TOUR 3 June: Saudi Arabia - talks with King Abdullah on Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations4 June: Egypt - talks with President Hosni Mubarak, keynote speech at Cairo university5 June: Germany - meets Chancellor Angela Merkel, visits to Dresden and to Buchenwald concentration camp6 June: France - meets President Nicolas Sarkozy, attends D-Day events in NormandyOBAMA'S TOUR 3 June: Saudi Arabia - talks with King Abdullah on Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations4 June: Egypt - talks with President Hosni Mubarak, keynote speech at Cairo university5 June: Germany - meets Chancellor Angela Merkel, visits to Dresden and to Buchenwald concentration camp6 June: France - meets President Nicolas Sarkozy, attends D-Day events in Normandy
To do this he needs Arab partners and this trip takes in two key nations - Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The visit takes in Washington's two most important Arab allies, class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/791936.stm">Saudi Arabia and class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/737642.stm">Egypt.
The Saudis are sponsors of the only comprehensive peace plan for relations between the Arab world and Israel. The Saudis are sponsors of the only comprehensive peace plan for relations between the Arab world and Israel, although peace negotiations are at a standstill.
Egypt is intimately involved with the Palestinian problem, acting as an intermediary between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.Egypt is intimately involved with the Palestinian problem, acting as an intermediary between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Mr Obama needs both countries on board if he is to breathe life into the largely moribund peace negotiations, our correspondent says. Mr Obama was given a red-carpet reception in Riyadh before holding talks with King Abdullah. As well as regional issues, Mr Obama said he would raise the issue of oil prices with the Saudi ruler.
'Action not words''Action not words'
In Saudi Arabia, Mr Obama will hold talks with King Abdullah in Riyadh. As well as regional issues, Mr Obama said he would raise the issue of oil prices with the Saudi ruler. On Thursday, Mr Obama is to deliver class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8075168.stm">a speech at Cairo University which he hopes will set a new tone in US-Arab relations.
Saudi Arabia is gearing up for the visit by the US leaderSaudi Arabia is gearing up for the visit by the US leader
Ahead of the visit, al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia issued an internet statement vowing to target President Obama's convoy in Riyadh, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner reports. The tour itinerary does not include Israel, but shortly before departing for Saudi Arabia, Mr Obama had a meeting with Israel's defence minister, Ehud Barak, in Washington.
On Thursday, Mr Obama is to deliver a speech at Cairo University which he hopes will set a new tone in US-Arab relations.
After Cairo, Mr Obama will travel on to Europe for D-Day commemorations.
The tour itinerary does not include Israel but shortly before departing for Saudi Arabia, Mr Obama had a meeting with Israel's defence minister, Ehud Barak, in Washington.
The president is reported to have used the meeting to reiterate that the US intends to be tough with Israel on the question of settlement building in the West Bank.The president is reported to have used the meeting to reiterate that the US intends to be tough with Israel on the question of settlement building in the West Bank.
Israel is resisting calls to freeze building activity in all settlements, but Palestinian leaders have said there can be no progress towards peace without a halt to such construction.Israel is resisting calls to freeze building activity in all settlements, but Palestinian leaders have said there can be no progress towards peace without a halt to such construction.
Speaking to the BBC ahead of his visit, Mr Obama said he believed the US was "going to be able to get serious negotiations back on track" between Israel and the Palestinians.Speaking to the BBC ahead of his visit, Mr Obama said he believed the US was "going to be able to get serious negotiations back on track" between Israel and the Palestinians.
He said his visit offered the US and the Islamic world the chance "to listen to each other a little bit more".He said his visit offered the US and the Islamic world the chance "to listen to each other a little bit more".
HAVE YOUR SAYLet's get real. This is a bunch of propagandaDean Smith, Toronto Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYLet's get real. This is a bunch of propagandaDean Smith, Toronto Send us your comments
But there were no silver bullets, he warned.But there were no silver bullets, he warned.
"There are very real policy issues that have to be worked through that are difficult. Ultimately, it's going to be action and not words that determine the path, the progress from here on out," he said."There are very real policy issues that have to be worked through that are difficult. Ultimately, it's going to be action and not words that determine the path, the progress from here on out," he said.
After Cairo, Mr Obama will travel on to Europe for D-Day commemorations.
On the eve of his visit, the deputy leader of al-Qaeda urged Muslims to ignore the new tone from Washington.On the eve of his visit, the deputy leader of al-Qaeda urged Muslims to ignore the new tone from Washington.
In an audio message posted on a website, Ayman al-Zawahiri said Mr Obama's "bloody messages" - in Iraq and Afghanistan - would not be concealed by "polished words". In an audio message posted on a website, class="inlineText" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/8080311.stm">Ayman al-Zawahiri said Mr Obama's "bloody messages" - in Iraq and Afghanistan - would not be concealed by "polished words".
Al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia issued an internet statement vowing to target President Obama's convoy in Riyadh.
The BBC News website will carry a fully-annotated transcript of President Obama's Cairo speech, with analysis of key passages by BBC world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds.