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U.S. Secretary Of State Visits Jordan


Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (file photo) (RFE/RL) 14 November 2005 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a stop in Jordan tonight to show solidarity with the country's leaders following last week's hotel suicide bombings that killed 57 people in Amman.

"I have come to Jordan on behalf of the president, on behalf of the American people, to say to the people of Jordan that we stand with them as they have stood with us in times of need and times of sorrow," Rice said.

Rice flew in from Jerusalem to call on Jordan's King Abdullah. She was scheduled to return to Israel to try to broker an Israeli-Palestinian deal over Gaza's border crossing to Egypt.

The crossing has been closed since Israel withdrew from Gaza in September.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah, Rice said international mediator James Wolfensohn has put forth compromise proposals to bridge the gaps between the two sides.

Abbas also expressed optimism, saying he believes a deal on reopening the Gaza-Egypt border is imminent.

(Reuters/AFP)
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