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| Bush warns of dangers from Iran | Bush warns of dangers from Iran |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush has warned of the dangers he says are posed by Iran, in a speech in its Gulf neighbour, the United Arab Emirates. | US President George W Bush has warned of the dangers he says are posed by Iran, in a speech in its Gulf neighbour, the United Arab Emirates. |
| Mr Bush said Iran "threatens the security of nations everywhere", and that the US was rallying friends to confront it "before it's too late". | Mr Bush said Iran "threatens the security of nations everywhere", and that the US was rallying friends to confront it "before it's too late". |
| He was giving a speech in Abu Dhabi on the latest leg of his Middle East tour. | He was giving a speech in Abu Dhabi on the latest leg of his Middle East tour. |
| He praised the UAE for its economic and social progress, and urged other Middle Eastern nations to take up democracy. | He praised the UAE for its economic and social progress, and urged other Middle Eastern nations to take up democracy. |
| He told delegates at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) that more open societies would foster the Middle East's immense "human capital". | He told delegates at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) that more open societies would foster the Middle East's immense "human capital". |
| He said there had been advances in the region, but also setbacks. Without fair elections and freedom of speech, "you cannot expect people to believe in the promise of a better future", he added. | He said there had been advances in the region, but also setbacks. Without fair elections and freedom of speech, "you cannot expect people to believe in the promise of a better future", he added. |
| 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 |
| Mr Bush said spreading freedom and democracy was the best way to defeat radicalism. | |
| America and its democratic allies would prevail over extremists like al-Qaeda, he said, because "[we have] freedom and justice written into our hearts by Almighty God... no terrorists can take that away". | |
| 'Street' view | |
| This was described by Mr Bush's aides as the "keynote" speech of his Middle East tour. | |
| The BBC's Matthew Price, travelling with Mr Bush, says the president has sounded more nuanced on this trip than previously, and has spent much of it reaching out and making suggestions, rather than demands. | |
| President Bush arrived in the UAE amid a light drizzle | |
| But that may not be how it plays to the "streets" of the Middle East. | |
| Many people will see US foreign policy as militaristic, following its invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, and will view Mr Bush's words on Iran as a call to arms - even though they were not, our correspondent says. | |
| In fact, he reached out to the people of Iran. | |
| "You're rich in culture and talent. You have the right to live under a government that listens to your wishes, respects your talents and allows you to build better lives for your families," he said. | "You're rich in culture and talent. You have the right to live under a government that listens to your wishes, respects your talents and allows you to build better lives for your families," he said. |
| However, he repeated his allegation that currently, Iran was "the world's leading state sponsor of terror", funnelling arms and funds to militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, the Taleban and Shia fighters in Iraq. | However, he repeated his allegation that currently, Iran was "the world's leading state sponsor of terror", funnelling arms and funds to militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, the Taleban and Shia fighters in Iraq. |
| He said Iran had defied the United Nations and destabilised the region by failing to be transparent about its nuclear programme. | He said Iran had defied the United Nations and destabilised the region by failing to be transparent about its nuclear programme. |
| As Mr Bush was giving his speech, the UN's atomic watchdog announced that Tehran had agreed to clarify all outstanding questions over its nuclear activities within a month. | |
| Earlier on Sunday, during a visit to Bahrain, President Bush met some of the sailors whose ships the US says were confronted by Iranian speedboats last weekend. | |
| Palestinian issue | Palestinian issue |
| In his speech Mr Bush also addressed the Middle East peace process, trying to encourage support from his Gulf Arab allies. | In his speech Mr Bush also addressed the Middle East peace process, trying to encourage support from his Gulf Arab allies. |
| In particular, he is attempting to persuade them to back Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as he negotiates with the Israelis. | In particular, he 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. |
| 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. |