AMMAN, Jordan, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush arrives in Jordan Wednesday amid high anti-U.S. sentiments in the region linked to violence in Iraq and the Palestinian territories.
Calls were made by opposition parties to stage protests coinciding with Bush's visit, described by political analysts as crucial to boosting Arab and international efforts to stem rampant violence that is pushing Iraq to the brink of an all-out civil war.
Bush, scheduled to hold talks with Iraqi Prime Minster Nouri al-Maliki and Jordan's King Abdullah on new strategies to quell sectarian killings and the state of lawlessness sweeping Iraq, might meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during his two-day stay in Jordan.
An official source quoted in Jordan's daily al-Ghad said the talks will focus on the complicated situation in Iraq which Amman believes necessitates the assistance of neighboring countries to help achieve a plausible settlement to avoid sectarian strife.
Abdullah will caution Bush against any sudden U.S. withdrawal from Iraq before Iraqi forces are capable of taking over security duties, warning that "a civil strife will not be limited to Iraq but will spill over to the rest of the region," the source said.
He said the Jordanian host will urge his American guest to increase international efforts for ending military escalation between Israel and the Palestinians and helping both parties rebuild confidence as a prelude to resumption of diplomacy.
"His Majesty will call on the U.S. president to back the Arab peace initiative which offered Israel normal relations with Arabs in return for withdrawal from territories captured in 1967 war," the source said.
He added that Abdullah will ask Bush to use his political weight to convince Israel that "there is a significant chance at present to settle the longest-protracted conflict in modern history" on the basis of two states, Israel and Palestine.
