Dubai proclaims Bush visit a holiday
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush Monday praised Dubai and its leadership, and said he wants residents to understand they have the respect of the United States.
Before heading for Saudi Arabia, Bush attended a roundtable with young Arab leaders.
"I'm most impressed by what I've seen here," Bush said, adding, "I also want you to understand something about America: that we respect you, we respect your religion and we want to work together for the sake of freedom and peace.
Dubai declared a public holiday for Bush's visit, part of a multi-country sweep of the Middle East to support the peace process.
All roads in the city-state were closed as Bush and his entourage were treated to cultural displays including young girls dancing to Arabic music.
The president then attended a roundtable of the Young Arab Leaders group at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, where he referred to the main purpose of his Middle East trip.
Dubai is a staunch U.S. ally and provides a port to U.S. military ships.
Bush was scheduled to depart for Saudi Arabia later Monday in the week-long trip that began Wednesday in Israel.
No new ground broken on Iran issue
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. national security adviser Steve Hadley Monday sidestepped questions about Arab reaction to the situation in Iran and U.S. hopes they will take action.
During a press briefing aboard Air Force One en route to Saudi Arabia from Dubai, Hadley said called the Iran situation "difficult" and said all sides agree it must be handled in a diplomatic fashion.
Hadley admitted not "much new ground" was broken in the last 48 hours because "our policy is pretty clear. The region understands."
On Saudi Arabia, Hadley said a notification was expected to be sent to Congress Monday by the State Department containing specifics of the Saudi arms deal.
Explosion rocks Kabul hotel
KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- An explosion, claimed by the Taliban, reportedly rocked Kabul's Serena hotel Monday, forcing guests into the cellar of the Afghan capital's luxury facility.
The hotel, which is heavily guarded, is patronized by foreign visitors, the BBC reported.
One guest was quoted as saying there was a huge explosion followed by gunfire. Other reports said at least one person was killed in the incident.
The BBC report said the guests were moved to the hotel cellar for safety.
The Taliban claimed the attack was carried out by four of its fighters. Zadihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the militants, told the BBC the attackers were armed with Kalashnikovs and grenades and that one of them succeeded in detonating a bomb.
The Taliban was responsible for two suicide bombings, which killed 13 people in December in the capital.
Explosion rocks Karachi
KARACHI, Pakistan, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A bomb exploded Monday in a busy area of Karachi, killing at least seven people in Pakistan's largest city.
The Press Trust of India, quoting police and rescue workers, reported seven people were killed and at least 30 people injured in the blast in the Landhi Industrial Area in the port city's Qaidabad area.
The city has been the scene of violence recently, the largest being in October when an explosion killed about 130 people along a motorcade to welcome former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto from her exile. Bhutto escaped that blast but was assassinated Dec. 27 in Rawalpindi.
Karachi police was quoted by PTI as saying the bomb in the latest blast was hidden in a motorcycle parked in the area.
Xinhua, quoting a local television channel, also reported seven died in the blast. But another private channel reported nine deaths and that the explosive device was attached to a fruit cart.
The BBC said paramilitary rangers have been on guard in the city for the Muslim holy month of Muharram. The religious observance has led to violence in the past between the Shiites and Sunnis.
IAEA reaches deal with Iran
VIENNA, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The United Nation's nuclear watchdog reached an agreement with Iran to settle remaining issues concerning Iran's nuclear program.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohammed ElBaradei reached an agreement Sunday in Tehran but the United States said the issue falls short of addressing its concerns about uranium enrichment, Radio Free Europe said Monday.
The agreement allows IAEA oversight on Iranian studies concerning the conversion of uranium dioxide into uranium tetrafluoride, which can be refined to weapons-grade uranium, and an examination over suspicious radioactive contamination discovered at an Iranian technical university.
Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the White House said the confidence-building measures were useful but emphasized the Bush administration's policy of making uranium enrichment too costly for the Iranians.
