Sarkozy's Saudi talks continue

Mr Sarkozy discussed Middle East peace and trade with the Saudi King and his cabinet

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is attending a second day of talks with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah in Riyadh.

Mr Sarkozy met the king and discussed the Middle East peace process and trade ties in talks on Tuesday described by Saudi sources as "long and in-depth".

He spent the night at King Abdullah's desert ranch in Al-Janadriya.

Officials say the trip is aimed at strengthening ties between the two men, but they are also set to discuss French bids for major Saudi arms contracts.

Before leaving France, Mr Sarkozy called for the urgent resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Earlier this month he held meetings at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, with the leaders of Iraq, Israel and Syria.

He has also spoken by telephone with the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, who will attend talks with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner later in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

'Personal nature'

A Saudi government adviser told the AFP news agency Mr Sarkozy's visit would be "personal in nature" and that its purpose would be to "invigorate ties" and "widen the scope of relations" between the two countries.

Sometimes in these moments of great tensions solutions arise, because they give the actors the courage and strength to move forward. It is for us to help them French President Nicolas Sarkozy

Mr Sarkozy's meeting with King Abdullah and his cabinet and advisers was "long and in-depth", the state owned Saudi Press Agency said.

No official announcements are expected from either side during the visit, but the two leaders are expected to discuss French efforts to sell Saudi Arabia military helicopters, naval frigates and high-speed trains.

An agreement on peaceful nuclear co-operation is also on the agenda, as well as Iran's nuclear programme and the Middle East peace process.

Riyadh was hoping Mr Sarkozy could help get peace talks going after a "disappointing" effort by Washington, the Saudi adviser said.

Deadlock

In an interview with the Saudi newspaper al-Riyadh, the French leader said it was a priority to restart talks as soon as possible.

"It is urgent because the current deadlock plays into the hands of extremists and each day the chance of peace is slipping away a little," he said.

Mr Sarkozy said he had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt settlement construction and Mr Abbas to remain "committed" to holding presidential and legislative elections in 2010.

"Sometimes in these moments of great tensions solutions arise, because they give the actors the courage and strength to move forward. It is for us to help them," Mr Sarkozy added.

This will be the third trip to Saudi Arabia in two years for Mr Sarkozy, who in recent years has put less emphasis on building relations with France's allies in Africa and more on Gulf and Indian Ocean states.

In 2007, shortly after taking office, he declared that in addition to being sources of oil and potential markets for French technology, the two areas were key to France's security and that of the world.

France opened its first military facilities in the Gulf at Abu Dhabi two years later, including a dedicated quay at Zayed Port, an air force installation at the Dhafra Air Base, and a barracks.