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Bush tour heads for Saudi Arabia George Bush lands in Saudi Arabia
(about 11 hours later)
US President George W Bush is set to continue his tour of the Middle East by flying to Saudi Arabia from its Gulf neighbour, the United Arab Emirates. US President George W Bush has arrived in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, the latest stage in Middle East tour.
Mr Bush is hoping to gather support there for his twin missions of furthering the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and of isolating Iran. He is hoping to gather support there for his twin missions of furthering the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and of isolating Iran.
In a speech on Sunday, he warned of the dangers posed by Iran, saying it should be confronted "before it's too late". Mr Bush flew in from the United Arab Emirates, where he warned that the danger posed by Iran should be confronted "before it's too late".
Mr Bush also made a forceful call for strengthening democracy in the region. He also made a forceful call for strengthening democracy in the region.
The president called the fight against extremism the great ideological struggle of our time, and said only freedom, justice and democracy would defeat it. In his speech in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, Mr Bush called the fight against extremism the great ideological struggle of our time, and said only freedom, justice and democracy would defeat it.
Iranian issueIranian issue
The BBC's Matthew Price, who is travelling with the president, says the Bush family has long been close to the Saudi royal family.The BBC's Matthew Price, who is travelling with the president, says the Bush family has long been close to the Saudi royal family.
In the capital, Riyadh, Mr Bush will meet not just good allies, but good friends, our correspondent says. In Riyadh, Mr Bush will meet not just good allies, but good friends, our correspondent says.
He is expected to ask King Abdullah to support his recent efforts in the Middle East peace process and in particular to back Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as he negotiates with the Israelis.He is expected to ask King Abdullah to support his recent efforts in the Middle East peace process and in particular to back Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as he negotiates with the Israelis.
The day will come when the people of Iran have a government that embraces liberty and justice... when that good day comes, you will have no better friend than the United States of America US President George W Bush Middle East tour diaryGulf's wary democracy pathThe day will come when the people of Iran have a government that embraces liberty and justice... when that good day comes, you will have no better friend than the United States of America US President George W Bush Middle East tour diaryGulf's wary democracy path
While visiting Israel and the Palestinian Territories on Thursday, Mr Bush said Israel had to 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, Mr Bush said Israel had to end its occupation of some Arab land to enable the creation of a viable Palestinian state.
The president also expected to ask the king to support his efforts to isolate Iran over of its controversial nuclear programme. The president is also expected to ask the Saudi king to support his efforts to isolate Iran over its controversial nuclear programme.
In his speech in Abu Dhabi, he said Iran had defied the UN Security Council and destabilised the region by failing to be transparent about its nuclear programme. In Abu Dhabi, he said Iran had defied the UN Security Council and destabilised the region by failing to be transparent about its nuclear programme.
He also described Iran as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, accusing it of sending hundreds of millions of dollars to extremists around the world while its own people faced repression and economic hardship.He also described Iran as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, accusing it of sending hundreds of millions of dollars to extremists around the world while its own people faced repression and economic hardship.
Our correspondent says, however, that the Saudi government, like other states in the region, are unlikely to be able to offer him much on the Iranian issue. Our correspondent says, however, that the Saudi government, like other states in the region, is unlikely to be able to offer him much on the Iranian issue.
Relations between the Gulf kingdom and Iran have been tense in the past, but in recent months there seems to have been a steady improvement, he adds. Relations between the Gulf kingdom and Iran have been tense in the past, but in recent months there seems to have been a steady improvement, he says.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became the first Iranian president to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca last month.Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became the first Iranian president to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca last month.