Rice Meets With Saudi King on Trip to Rally Arab Allies

In Wake of Lebanon War, Secretary of State Looks to Stabilize Middle East, Counter Momentum of Militant Movements

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 2 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held midnight talks with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on Monday on the first leg of a five-day swing through the Middle East to rally Arab allies against the growing momentum of militant movements in the region.

The Bush administration is trying to line up support among an informal new bloc -- including the six Persian Gulf states, Egypt and Jordan -- to help stabilize the region after the 33-day war in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel.

America's top diplomat described that conflict as a clarifying moment in defining the political forces in the world's most volatile region. Many analysts believe the sixth Middle East war at least temporarily boosted the standing of Hezbollah as well as its patron Iran and allies such as the radical Palestinian group Hamas.

Rice is hoping to explore ways of reviving the moribund peace process between Israel and the Palestinians as well as bolster support for the fragile governments in Iraq and Lebanon. U.S. officials privately concede that their expectations for any major movement are low.

To emphasize the growing gap between moderates and militants, Rice may hold talks on Iran on Friday with the foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany. The subject will be what actions to take against Tehran for failing to comply with a U.N. resolution to stop uranium enrichment for an energy program that could be used to develop nuclear weapons.

Rice held a conference call with her counterparts over the weekend to discuss Iran, which missed a formal Aug. 31 deadline. A second, informal deadline passes this week.

"I think it's fair to say that we have not yet heard anything that suggests that the Iranians are going to suspend," Rice told reporters traveling with her, pointing out that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly rejected suspending enrichment.

The Bush administration is pressing for punitive sanctions against Iran if it does not agree to suspend enrichment and come to the negotiating table.

Rice said European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is likely to "check his sources one more time to see if there is anything more there." Solana has been heading up talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani.

"We did have a discussion of the importance of remaining firm on Resolution 1696, which means that if the Iranians don't suspend, then we will go to the Security Council for sanctions," Rice said.

The U.S. effort to generate new momentum in the Middle East comes at an all-time low in the region for the Bush presidency, with Iraq's insurgency intensifying, the Palestinians enmeshed in a political and economic quagmire, Hezbollah still armed in Lebanon, Iran's new president increasingly defiant, and three Israeli soldiers captured by Palestinian and Lebanese fighters over the summer yet to be released.

An attempt last month between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas to form a national unity government collapsed, particularly over the issue of recognizing Israel. New clashes in Gaza among Palestinians on Sunday killed six and injured more than 100.

In Jiddah, Rice said she is also hoping to win Saudi political and financial help in Iraq. Guardian of Islam's holy places and ruled by a staunchly Sunni government, the kingdom has particular leverage with Iraq's Sunni tribes.

"Saudi Arabia has a lot of standing with a number of the forces in Iraq" and was "very helpful in trying to get Sunnis involved in the election," Rice told reporters traveling with her. "So I think it would be very helpful if they were supportive of, and working toward," helping Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's national reconciliation plan.

Rice's trip is a follow-up to President Bush's pledge at the United Nations last month to galvanize moderate voices in the region. Rice is also scheduled to visit Egypt for a meeting with eight foreign ministers and then Israel and the West Bank to discuss peace efforts.