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“Obama Adds Saudi Arabia to Mid - East Agenda”
by BBC News   
May 27th, 2009

US President Barack Obama's foreign tour next week will include a stop-off in Saudi Arabia, his spokesman said in a late addition to the schedule.

Robert Gibbs said Mr Obama would hold talks with King Abdullah in Riyadh on 3 June to discuss Israeli-Palestinian peace moves, Iran and terrorism.

Some analysts say the US administration is considering adopting a modified Arab peace plan proposed by the Saudis.

The inclusion of Saudi Arabia "was not born of anything specific", Gibbs said.

Apart from a brief stop-off in Iraq in April, the visit will be Mr Obama's first foray into the Middle East cauldron, though he has been busily engaged with regional diplomacy in the White House.

He has hosted Jordan's King Abdullah and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is due to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday.

Tuesday was meant to be President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt's day at the White House, but the meeting was cancelled following the tragic death of Mr Mubarak's 12-year-old grandson last week.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit and intelligence chief Omar Suleiman made the trip instead, meeting US national security adviser James Jones on Tuesday.

Mr Obama will also travel to Cairo next week to give a major policy speech addressed to the Muslim world, before visiting Germany and France for the 65th anniversary of D-Day.

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