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Bush to be briefed on Middle East Bush briefed on Middle East trips
(about 18 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates will brief President George W Bush on their recent visits to the Middle East. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates have briefed President George W Bush on their recent visits to the Middle East.
The pair, who will brief the president at Camp David, have been trying to rally Arab support for his new military strategy in Iraq. The pair were trying to rally Arab support for his new Iraq strategy. Ms Rice and Mr Gates were expected to report deep scepticism in the region.
They will report deep scepticism in the region, to match that in the US. There is also growing regional concern about the tough US stance towards Iran.
They have also had to address growing regional concern about the increasingly aggressive US stance towards Iran. No details of the briefings emerged. Mr Bush then flew to Camp David to prepare Tuesday's State of the Union speech.
Battle groupBattle group
While countries like Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia voiced broad support for sending 20,000 more US troops to Iraq, there were signs of unease about the US stance towards some of Iraq's neighbours. The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says that while countries like Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia voiced broad support for sending 20,000 more US troops to Iraq, there were signs of unease about the US stance towards some of Iraq's neighbours.
Ms Rice rejected an appeal from the Emir of Kuwait to engage directly with both Iran and Syria to prevent the Iraq conflict spreading beyond its borders.Ms Rice rejected an appeal from the Emir of Kuwait to engage directly with both Iran and Syria to prevent the Iraq conflict spreading beyond its borders.
Mr Gates, too, has had to explain the US military build-up.Mr Gates, too, has had to explain the US military build-up.
The president has sent a second navy battle group to the Persian Gulf - a clear show of force to Tehran.The president has sent a second navy battle group to the Persian Gulf - a clear show of force to Tehran.
Back in Washington, Democrats have warned the president that he does not have the authority to attack Iran without the approval of Congress.Back in Washington, Democrats have warned the president that he does not have the authority to attack Iran without the approval of Congress.
Ms Rice will also brief the president on her discussions on the stalled Middle East peace process. Ms Rice also briefed the president on her discussions on the stalled Middle East peace process.
She has announced that she will hold a meeting with Israel's prime minister and the Palestinian Authority president - one modest achievement in a difficult week of diplomacy. She has announced that she will hold a meeting with Israel's prime minister and the Palestinian Authority president.
It is one modest achievement in a difficult week of diplomacy, our correspondent says.