February 03, 2007	Saturday	Muharram 14, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 2: President Gen Pervez Musharraf as part of his efforts to launch a fresh and forceful Middle East peace initiative for a just settlement of the Palestinian issue will make short trips to Iran and Turkey next week to hold further consultations with the top leadership of the two key Muslim countries.

Notably before embarking on his tour of the Arab countries - Saudi Arabia,

Egypt, Jordan, Syria and UAE - the president had a detailed discussion with his Iranian counterpart President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on January 19.

Later, on his return from the tour he telephoned and briefed both the Turkish president and the prime minister on his consultations with the Arab leaders.

Announcing the forthcoming visits of President Musharraf, a Foreign Office statement said on Friday: “Following his visit to Indonesia and Malaysia which was in continuation of his visits to five Middle Eastern countries, the president will be visiting Iran and Turkey next week.”.

It said: “He will exchange views with the leadership of the two countries on the Middle East situation, particularly the Palestine problem, Iraq and other challenges confronting the Muslim world.”

According to the statement the president on his return from Kuala Lumpur on Thursday night spoke to Saudi King Abdullah and briefed him about his discussions with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi who chairs the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

The president informed him that the leaders of the two countries he visited shared his concern over the situation in Palestine and the Middle East and expressed full support for launching a strong new initiative for the Middle East, the statement said. “The Saudi King expressed his appreciation and support for the president’s efforts,” it said.