Rice's Mideast visit seeks support to stabilize Iraq, bolster Abbas

RALLYING SUPPORT FOR BUSH'S NEW IRAQ PLAN

Rice met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit Monday in the southern Egyptian ancient city of Luxor, during which Abul Gheit voiced support to U.S. President George W. Bush's new plan in Iraq, the pan-Arab al-Jazeera television reported.

"We are supportive of that plan because we are hopeful that the plan would lead to ensuring stability, unity and cohesion of the Iraqi government," Abul Gheit said.

"Egypt hopes the plan will lead to the required level of stability in Iraq," Abul Gheit said, adding that Egypt hoped that the U.S. strategy would help build a strong and more united Iraqi government.

"Of course helping Iraq to help itself is to work for certain amendments to the constitution in order to allow all factions and all Iraqi colors and all Iraqi forces to be on board in the process," he said.

Abul Gheit said that Egypt was also concerned about foreign interference in Iraq, which he said had a "negative impact," and the issue would be discussed when Rice meets with Arab foreign ministers in Kuwait on Tuesday.

"There are indications that there are elements seeking to interfere with Iraq, and regional powers should be stopped from working in Iraqi territory," he said.

For her part, Rice said that she believes that U.S. allies in the region will share with the United States common responsibility, interests and strategy to go forward to stabilize Iraq and keep Iraq unified against foreign interference.

U.S. has always accused Iran of "fishing in the troubled water" in Iraq, but Tehran denied such a charge.

In her tour, Rice aims to get Arab allies to help support the fragile government in Iraq, which is an important factor for the success of President George W. Bush's new plan to increase U.S. troops in Iraq by 21,500.

Bush's new strategy, seen by many as probably his final bet to change the course of the war, met with strong skepticism across the Mideast, where many predicted that even with more soldiers, America would still fail to break the cycle of violence.

BOLSTERING SUPPORT FOR MODERATE ABBAS

Arab leaders are pressing the United States to take a larger role in brokering peace between Israel, the Palestinians and other players in the region.

Monday's talks between Rice and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa and others touched on the latest developments of the Mideast peace process and Rice's talks in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Amman and her vision of propelling the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.

At a press conference, Rice said that she will bring together

Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the coming weeks for a summit dedicated to exploring ideas for an eventual Palestinian state.

She said that the summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would take place " relatively soon" but did not specify a date, adding that her talks in the region dealt with laying the groundwork for "a political horizon that will lead to a Palestinian state."

However, the United States refused to make contact with the ruling Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which refuses to recognize Israel and renounce violence, while pouring 86 million dollars to strengthen presidential guards loyal to moderate Abbas.

But, Abbas has rejected the idea of a Palestinian state with temporary borders, which is included in Phrase Two of the roadmap peace plan. This shows a big gap between the Palestinians and Israel, analysts said.

Rice's visit will achieve nothing significant as "only listen and talk" does not serve the peace process, although Rice said the United States is committed to more involvement in the process and accelerating the roadmap to move to a Palestinian state, some analysts said.