Reuters AlertNet Lite - Gates arrives in Saudi Arabia for talks on Iran

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Gates arrives in Saudi Arabia for talks on Iran

17 Jan 2007 17:13:06 GMT
Source: Reuters

RIYADH, Jan 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for unannounced talks with King Abdullah on topics that would include Iran, Al Arabiya television reported.

"Gates' talks with the custodian of the two holy mosques (King Abdullah) would focus on Iran and other regional issues," the Saudi-owned satellite television station said.

Washington accuses Iran of trying to set up a covert nuclear arms programme and of involvement in Iraq where U.S. forces have detained Iranian officials in several raids in recent weeks.

Gates, who arrived from Afghanistan, visits shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who held talks with Saudi leaders earlier this week on Washington's new strategy in Iraq to increase troops in an effort to bring stability.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said in a news conference on Tuesday that the kingdom and other U.S.-allied Arab countries supported the plan, but expressed concern about the Shi'ite-dominated Iraqi government's ability to deliver.

The United States and Saudi Arabia, a bastion of Sunni Islam, accuse Shi'ite power Iran of interfering in Iraq and fomenting violence there through support for Shi'ite groups.

But Saudi Arabia fears Washington's plan could lead to an early departure of U.S. troops from Iraq, leaving minority Sunnis at the mercy of Shi'ite militias and solidifying Shi'ite power there, analysts say.

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, says Baghdad must do more to reign in Shi'ite militias and end the marginalisation of Sunnis.

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Last updated:Wed Jan 17 17:15:31 2007