Bush wraps up tour with warning to Syria and Iran (Roundup)

Middle East News

Jan 16, 2008, 15:32 GMT

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt - US President George W Bush wrapped up his eight-day Middle East tour on Wednesday with a lightning visit to Egypt, where he said he was pleased with the drive for peace and progress in the region but warned Iran and Syria against obstructing efforts to end the political standoff in Lebanon. Speaking in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh following talks with Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak, Bush said he would return to the region to be involved in the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. He described his talks in Israel and the Palestinian areas as 'positive', which gave him a reason to believe that a peace agreement is possible. The US president heaped praise on Mubarak, who has recently seen his long-standing alliance with the United States cool over the contentious issue of weapons smuggled into the Gaza Strip through tunnels on Egypt's border in the Sinai desert. 'Our friendship is so long. Egypt is a cornerstone to our policy in the region,' Bush said. Egypt's role in the fight on terror, supporting peace efforts in the Middle East and Sudan were also praised by Bush. The current political crisis in Lebanon created by the failure of political powers to elect a president was discussed by the two leaders. Bush called on Iran and Syria - both of whom back the Hezbollah- led Lebanese opposition - to stop obstructing efforts to end the crisis. Moves towards national reconciliation and improving security in Iraq were commended by Bush. 'Normal life is returning to Baghdad and political life is moving,' he said. Democratic reforms, which cause friction between Cairo and Washington, were also discussed in the Sharm el-Sheikh talks. Bush 'appreciated' Mubarak's democratization moves but urged him to do more. Egypt was an important country that is expected to play a leading role in the introduction of freedom, justice and democracy in the region, Bush said. Egypt's journalists, judges and bloggers were singled out by Bush as creating a vibrant civil society, seeking independence and freedom. Washington's repeated criticism of Egypt's human rights violations and restrictions of political and press freedoms has further strained relations. Cairo perceives the criticism as US interference in its affairs. © 2008 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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SOHRABJan 17th, 2008 - 01:11:36

Hasn't the Bush Burnt yet?

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Bush wraps up tour with warning to Syria and Iran (Roundup)

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