P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News Staff

JEDDAH, 22 September 2003 — Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, and US President George W. Bush discussed the Middle East crisis in a telephone conversation yesterday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The SPA said the two leaders reviewed “relations between the two countries and ways of strengthening them, as well as regional and international issues, notably the crisis in the Middle East and the situation in the Palestinian territories.”

The talks between Prince Abdullah and President Bush came ahead of this week’s UN General Assembly meeting during which the US president will demand the international organization expand its role in war-battered Iraq.

Saudi Arabia has called for the formation of a legitimate government in Iraq as soon as possible to protect the country’s unity, sovereignty and independence.

In a statement issued after the weekly Cabinet meeting last Monday, the Kingdom expressed the hope that the joint efforts of the United Nations, the Arab League and the interim government will help return Iraq to normality.

Saudi Arabia, which is a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, has called for an international peacekeeping force to maintain peace and security in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Kingdom has said it holds Israel responsible for the collapse of a cease-fire accord with Palestinian groups and has condemned Israel’s plan to remove Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.