The Council of Ministers “expressed hope that the publication of the Road Map would signal the real start of a road leading to a just and comprehensive peace in the region,” said a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, urged the international community to pressure Israel to halt its escalation against the Palestinian people and end its aggression, the statement said.

The statement came on the eve of Powell’s arrival here as part his tour of the region, in which he has pushed for implementation of the Road Map drawn up by the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, as well as the United States.

The Cabinet urged the occupation forces to restore security and stability in Iraq, to pave the way for the formation of an interim government. Powell is expected to discuss US plans for a post-Saddam administration in his talks here with King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard.

Earlier, King Fahd briefed the ministers on the outcome of his talks with Bahrain’s Crown Prince Sheikh Salman and his contacts with other world leaders.

“Our discussions and contacts focused on the current situation in Iraq and developments in Palestine,” the statement said.

The statement emphasized that peace and security must be established in all Iraqi cities as quickly as possible. “The Iraqi people have the expertise to run their country and operate its basic services,” he added.

Culture and Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said the Cabinet meeting authorized Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari to hold talks with his Malaysian counterpart to reach an agreement for scientific and cultural cooperation between the two countries.