George Bush, the US president, has arrived in Saudi Arabia to renew his appeal to help tame record oil prices and shore up Arab support for his efforts to contain Iran's growing influence.

 

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia led a red-carpet welcome for Bush and his wife Laura as he landed at King Khaled airport around 2:00 pm (1100 GMT) on Friday.

Dana Perino, the White House spokeswoman, told reporters travelling with Bush: "We do count on the Opec (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) to keep adequate [oil] supplies out there, so the president will talk again with the king about that."

 

A White House statement on Friday said the US has agreed to help protect the resources of Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, and help it develop peaceful nuclear energy.

 

"The United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to co-operate in safeguarding the kingdom's energy resources by protecting key infrastructure, enhancing Saudi border security, and meeting [its] expanding energy needs," the statement said.

 

"The US and Saudi Arabia will sign a memorandum of understanding in the area of peaceful civil nuclear energy co-operation."

 

The announcement came as Bush ended a three-day trip to Israel where he vowed to oppose Iran's nuclear ambitions.

 

Bush is likely to urge the Saudi monarch to get Opec to increase oil production.

 

Since Bush's last visit in January, oil prices have jumped nearly $30, to about $126 a barrel.

 

The price increase has fuelled US fears of recession and mounted political pressure on the White House in a year when voters will pick Bush's successor.

 

King Abdullah will host Bush at his horse farm on the outskirts of Riyadh.

 

The White House says the two day visit will mostly pay tribute to 75 years of formal ties between Washington and the kingdom.

 

However, the two leaders will also try to mend relations that deteriorated in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001 and the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

 

Arms deal 

 

The United States ended more than a decade of military operations in Saudi Arabia in 2003 amid resentment in the kingdom over the American military presence.

 

Without providing further details, the White House said the two allies will also conclude an agreement for broader co-operation between the Saudi interior ministry and the US government.

 

Saudi Arabia has agreed to join two global initiatives - to combat nuclear terrorism and to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction, the White House said.

 

King Abdullah will likely be looking for reassurances on Bush's commitment to push a $1.4 billion arms sale through the US Congress, which is led by the political opposition. 

 

Democrats have threatened to block the deal in order to put pressure on Saudi Arabia to increase oil output.

 

Opec members have blamed high oil prices on speculators, saying it is not due to shortage of supply.

 

Before leaving Suadi Arabia for Egypt, Bush is also likely to press the Saudis to do more to support the US-brokered Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.