Saudi king and British PM in 'positive' Middle East talks
LONDON (AFP) — King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia had a "meeting of minds" in talks Wednesday with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on taking forward the Middle East peace process, a spokesman said.
On the second official day of the king's lavish state visit to Britain -- which has been marked by human rights protests -- the two leaders had "very positive" discussions on Middle East regional issues, a spokesman for the prime minister's office told AFP.
Brown did not bring up human rights issues with the king, though they have been raised separately during his visit, the spokesman said.
Britain sees Saudi Arabia as a key partner for economic ties, Middle East regional stability and combating Islamist extremism. However, critics of the kingdom's human rights record are unhappy at the welcome afforded to its octogenarian monarch.
Getting down to business following Tuesday's pomp and ceremony, the king visited Brown at his office in Downing Street in London.
"They mainly discussed the Middle East peace process looking ahead to the Annapolis," the spokesman said, referring to the peace conference in Maryland scheduled for later this year.
"The prime minister encouraged King Abdullah to continue to play a leadership role among Arab states.
"They talked about what was achievable and what needs to be done between now and then."
The king did not say whether he would attend but was not pressed on the matter.
However, Brown and Abdullah agreed the solution had to involve a viable, independent Palestinian state.
"They also talked about education internationally as one of the ways of combating extremism and terrorism," the spokesman added.
"They touched on counter-terrorism briefly. There was general agreement that the current work was of good quality, very useful and should continue."
Britain's bilateral counter-terrorism relationship with Saudi Arabia has been a touchy subject during the state visit, the first by a Saudi monarch since King Fahd's 1987 trip.
Abdullah said before arriving that Britain had failed to act on intelligence from his country that could have stopped the deadly 2005 London suicide bombings -- a claim talked down by British officials.
The pair had discussed regional security, reconciliation in Saudi Arabia's neighbour Iraq and the Iranian nuclear programme at Tuesday's lavish state banquet.
The king also visited Prince Charles's official residence Clarence House for private talks with the British heir apparent.
Clarence House therefore declined to divulge specific details.
"There was a meeting discussing bilateral relations and they also talked about some of the prince's charitable work," a spokeswoman told AFP.
"The Prince of Wales has known King Abdullah over a number of years and has got to know him quite well.
"Given the significance of the UK's relationship with Saudi Arabia in terms of things like terrorism and trade, it's an important connection."
The king also held talks with David Cameron, the leader of Britain's main opposition Conservative Party.
They discussed "counter-terrorism matters, including radicalisation inside and outside UK mosques, and the importance of stopping this radicalisation and the sources of funding for it," said a party spokesman.
"The meeting also covered the Middle East peace process and the latest developments regarding Iran."
Wednesday evening, the king attended a banquet given by the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London, which governs the city's financial district.
During his speech following the dinner, the monarch invited the hundreds of diners in the room to "make use of the many opportunities offered via the Saudi market."
Despite the pomp and high-level talks, the welcome extended to King Abdullah has infuriated some politicians, commentators and human rights groups, with protests having taken place throughout the trip.
London-based human rights group Amnesty International published a dossier to coincide with the visit highlighting the "bleak" situation in Saudi Arabia over public beheadings, torture, court-ordered floggings and violence and discrimination against women.
