WASHINGTON, April 16: US President George W. Bush wil meet Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah on April 25 at his Texas ranch, the White House announced on Tuesday, ending speculation that the visit might be cancelled.

The two leaders are expected to discuss the situation in the Middle East, specifically a Saudi peace proposal, and the US-led war on terrorism.

On Monday there was speculation that the Saudis might cancel the visit out of pique at the United States over what many Arabs see as a failure to stop Israeli aggression.

“The US-Saudi relationship, which extends back over six decades, has been a bulwark of US engagement in the Middle East,” White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said in announcing Abdullah would visit Bush’s ranch at Crawford, Texas.

The crown prince is set to become the third world leader welcomed to the sprawling property. British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin have stayed on the ranch.—Reuters