RIYADH: The Middle East peace process, the volatile situation in Afghanistan and the Iranian nuclear standoff topped the agenda of talks between Prince Khaled bin Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation, and British Defense Secretary Bob Ainsworth, here on Wednesday.

The talks also focused on a range of bilateral subjects and other regional as well as international issues of common concern. “The discussions were mainly on the same regional and bilateral issues that also figured during the audience with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah,” said Nick Heath, spokesman for the British Embassy. The talks, however, were marred by the news of the killings of five UK soldiers in a shooting at an Afghan police base. This killing together with many other casualties reported from Afghanistan in the recent past makes the current year the “deadliest” for British troops in more than two decades.

Heath added that the meeting with Prince Khaled was also attended by Chief of Staff Gen. Salih Al-Mohayya, Air Marshal Prince Abdulrahman Al-Faisal and other Saudi officials.

William Patey, British ambassador, was also present. Prince Khaled also hosted a lunch for Ainsworth before he left for London on Wednesday.