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Rice, Gates discuss arms deal with Arab leaders

Source: CCTV.com | 08-01-2007 17:56

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates have met with Arab leaders to increase support for Iraq among its neighbours. To achieve this end they promised military aid to the region.

Rice and Gates met King Abdulluh of Saudi Arabia and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to rally diplomatic and practical help for Iraq, torn by more than four years of war.

They carry with them a proposed US arms package for Arab states estimated at more than 20 billion US dollars. The package would bolster what the US sees as the forces of moderation in the troubled region.

Rice says there were expressions of support from Arab countries for US-backed Iraq following news of the aid and weapons package.

However, Iran is accusing the US of trying to create fear and mistrust in the Middle East and of destabilizing the region.

Rice denied the aid was directed at any country.

Rice said, "The United States is determined to assure our allies that we are going to be reliable in helping them to meet their security needs. We have a lot of interest in common in this region; the fight against terrorism and extremism, and protecting the gains of peace processes of the past, and in extending those gains to peace processes of the future."

The arms package is expected to include advanced defense and air systems. Final figures for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states will be determined in the coming weeks.

The package will be balanced by increasing military aid to Israel by more than 25 percent over the next 10 years.

 

Editor:Du Xiaodan