US seeks Saudi help to boost regional security

Riyadh: US Vice-President Dick Cheney met Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on Friday for talks expected to include cooperation to stabilise the oil market after prices reached record highs.

Cheney, who will also visit Israel, the West Bank, and Turkey before returning to Washington, hoped to discuss efforts to confront Iran over it suspect nuclear programme, a senior US official said on condition of anonymity.

The US vice president and the Saudi King were expected also to discuss Syria and Lebanon, and Cheney was to push his host as well as other Arab countries to step up efforts to help US-led efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On Iraq, Cheney was to push for Saudi Arabia to lead other Arab nations into dispatching an ambassador to Baghdad and step up other government-to-government contacts.

"I'm sure they will talk about the need for a cooperative way forward to try and stabilise the market, reduce the volatility in the market, and serve the interests of both consumers and producers alike," John Hannah, national security adviser to Cheney, said.

Cheney's trip follows a visit to Saudi Arabia by President George W. Bush, who in January called for crude oil exporters' group the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) to increase production.

"They are going to build off of the president's discussions here clearly. They will review those discussions. They will review a broad agenda of diplomatic and security issues as well as where we are now in the global energy market," Hannah said.

Cheney will also review his trips in the last few days to Iraq and Afghanistan during his talks with King Abdullah at the king's farm on the outskirts of Riyadh.

Cheney, who flew into Riyadh from Oman with his wife Lynne and daughter Liz, arrived at the king's farm, where he was greeted by Abdullah and Saudi aides carrying incense.

"Mr Vice-President, we've been friends for a very long time," King Abdullah said before awarding Cheney a high Saudi award with a green sash and a medal.