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Bush to Hold Talks With Saudi King on Oil Prices


U.S. President George Bush is heading to Saudi Arabia for talks on record oil prices that have affected Western consumers, after ending a three-day visit to Israel.

Mr. Bush plans to meet Friday with Saudi King Abdallah on his ranch outside the capital, Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia maintains about one-fifth of the world's oil reserves and accounts for 14 percent of U.S. crude oil imports.

Mr. Bush's visit to Saudi Arabia is intended partly to celebrate 75 years of formal U.S.-Saudi relations.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe says while Mr. Bush is there, the two countries will finalize bilateral deals on nuclear energy cooperation and infrastructure protection.

On Thursday, President Bush gave a speech to Israel's parliament marking 60 years since the creation of the Jewish state.

Mr. Bush told parliament the United States and Israel have an "unbreakable" alliance. He also said the United States is determined to stand by Israel in battling terrorist networks and opposing what he called Iran's ambitions to develop nuclear weapons.

Iran says its nuclear program is for generating electricity, not weapons.

President Bush will also travel to Egypt for meetings with President Hosni Mubarak, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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