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| Bush to push freedom in Abu Dhabi | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| US President George W Bush has arrived in the United Arab Emirates on the latest leg of his Middle East tour. | |
| Mr Bush is due to make a speech in Abu Dhabi promoting freedom, democracy and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and encouraging change in Iran. | |
| His first visit to the country since becoming president is also aimed at boosting diplomatic and business ties. | His first visit to the country since becoming president is also aimed at boosting diplomatic and business ties. |
| Earlier in Kuwait, Mr Bush said the US was still on target to withdraw some 20,000 troops out of Iraq by July. | Earlier in Kuwait, Mr Bush said the US was still on target to withdraw some 20,000 troops out of Iraq by July. |
| He said hope was returning across Iraq, with the US troop surge last year bringing greater security, but added that nothing could be taken for granted. | He said hope was returning across Iraq, with the US troop surge last year bringing greater security, but added that nothing could be taken for granted. |
| The president later travelled to Bahrain, where the US Navy's Fifth Fleet is based. He met some of the sailors whose ships the US says were confronted by Iranian speedboats last weekend. | |
| 'Freedom agenda' | 'Freedom agenda' |
| In Abu Dhabi, Mr Bush is due to hold talks with the emirate's ruler, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nuhayyan. | |
| Mr Bush has seemed more nuanced in his statements on this trip than he perhaps has in the past - he also seems to have a firm grip of the issues as he sees them Matthew PriceBBC correspondent Middle East tour diary | Mr Bush has seemed more nuanced in his statements on this trip than he perhaps has in the past - he also seems to have a firm grip of the issues as he sees them Matthew PriceBBC correspondent Middle East tour diary |
| He will later deliver a speech at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) expected to call on countries of the region to open up their societies to democracy, and political liberalisation in line with his "freedom agenda". | |
| The president is also expected to talk about the Middle East peace process, for which he is trying to encourage support from his Gulf Arab allies. | The president is also expected to talk about the Middle East peace process, for which he is trying to encourage support from his Gulf Arab allies. |
| In particular, Mr Bush is attempting to persuade them to back Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as he negotiates with the Israelis. | In particular, Mr Bush is attempting to persuade them to back Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as he negotiates with the Israelis. |
| While visiting Israel and the Palestinian Territories on Thursday, he said Israel must end its occupation of some Arab land to enable the creation of a viable Palestinian state. | While visiting Israel and the Palestinian Territories on Thursday, he said Israel must end its occupation of some Arab land to enable the creation of a viable Palestinian state. |
| He also urged a solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees that would involve paying them compensation. | He also urged a solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees that would involve paying them compensation. |
| Mr Bush's speech on Sunday is also expected to talk briefly about Iran, Lebanon, and the need to fight extremism. | Mr Bush's speech on Sunday is also expected to talk briefly about Iran, Lebanon, and the need to fight extremism. |