U.S. Secretary Of State Begins Mideast Trip
February 21, 2006
Rice (left) with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in Jeddah in November (AFP)
Rice will visit Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates during her trip, which will last until 24 February.
Rice will consult with regional leaders on a broad array of bilateral and regional issues. She'll focus on Iran's nuclear ambitions, the political situation in Iraq, and the Palestinian territories following the recent election victory of the militant group Hamas.
On her first stop in Egypt on 21 February, Egyptian officials will tell Rice not to rush to judgment when Hamas forms a government.
On Iran, according to the Eqyptian state news agency MENA, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and other officials will tell Rice the region should be free of weapons of mass destruction.
(with material from AFP)