Bush briefed on Middle East trips

Mr Gates and Ms Rice reported before Mr Bush flew to Camp David

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates have briefed President George W Bush on their recent visits to the Middle East.

The pair were trying to rally Arab support for his new Iraq strategy. Ms Rice and Mr Gates were expected to report deep scepticism in the region.

There is also growing regional concern about the tough US stance towards Iran.

No details of the briefings emerged. Mr Bush then flew to Camp David to prepare Tuesday's State of the Union speech.

Battle group

The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says that while countries like Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia voiced broad support for sending 20,000 more US troops to Iraq, there were signs of unease about the US stance towards some of Iraq's neighbours.

Ms Rice rejected an appeal from the Emir of Kuwait to engage directly with both Iran and Syria to prevent the Iraq conflict spreading beyond its borders.

Mr Gates, too, has had to explain the US military build-up.

The president has sent a second navy battle group to the Persian Gulf - a clear show of force to Tehran.

Back in Washington, Democrats have warned the president that he does not have the authority to attack Iran without the approval of Congress.

Ms Rice also briefed the president on her discussions on the stalled Middle East peace process.

She has announced that she will hold a meeting with Israel's prime minister and the Palestinian Authority president.

It is one modest achievement in a difficult week of diplomacy, our correspondent says.