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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Rice embarks on new Mid-East tour | Rice embarks on new Mid-East tour |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The US secretary of state is in Saudi Arabia on the first leg of a Middle East tour aimed at reviving the peace process in the region. | |
| Condoleezza Rice held talks with King Abdullah and will go on to visit Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories. | |
| 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. | 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 US was criticised for not calling for an immediate end to the fighting. | The US was criticised for not calling for an immediate end to the fighting. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Dim prospects' | 'Dim prospects' |
| She said her mission was to rally what she described as moderate Muslim forces in the region to support what she called the emerging democracies in Lebanon and Iraq. | |
| "I want Saudi's involvement in the stabilisation of Iraq, I want Saudi's involvement in the stabilisation of Lebanon, through resources and political support," Ms Rice said before arriving in the western city of Jeddah. | "I want Saudi's involvement in the stabilisation of Iraq, I want Saudi's involvement in the stabilisation of Lebanon, through resources and political support," Ms Rice said before arriving in the western city of Jeddah. |
| President Bush may want to revive the peace process, but it is hard to see how Rice courts moderate Arabs | President Bush may want to revive the peace process, but it is hard to see how Rice courts moderate Arabs |
| Ms Rice will focus her efforts on talking to what the Bush administration terms "the voices of Muslim moderation". | Ms Rice will focus her efforts on talking to what the Bush administration terms "the voices of Muslim moderation". |
| But hopes of achieving any agreement between Israel and the Palestinians still look dim and distant, our correspondent says. | But hopes of achieving any agreement between Israel and the Palestinians still look dim and distant, our correspondent says. |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been weakened by the recent war with Hezbollah and so has his negotiating position. | 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. | 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. | 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. |