Jordan's king in driver's seat

AMMAN, Jordan, July 22 (UPI) -- Jordanian King Abdullah apparently is not above playing chauffeur, ferrying U.S. Democratic hopeful Barack Obama to Amman airport.

Obama, accompanied by Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., were in Jordan Tuesday for talks on Iraq, Afghanistan, the Palestinian conflict and other regional issues.

Following a dinner at Beit al-Urdan palace, Obama, D-Ill., climbed into the front passenger seat of the king's Mercedes 600 and Abdullah got behind the wheel, ABC reported. The vehicle led a parade of Mercedes filled with security forces to the airport, where Obama boarded his plane for a flight to Tel Aviv, Israel.