Powell to visit Riyadh next week

RIYADH, 21 February — US Secretary of State Colin Powell will visit Saudi Arabia early next week as part of a regional swing. Powell will hold talks with Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard. His first trip to the region as secretary of state will focus on the Middle East peace process and the Iraq crisis. Powell is expected to meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Sunday in the Palestinian territories during his tour which begins in Jordan on Friday and also includes stops in Egypt, Israel, Syria and Kuwait. (MGAK)