Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah arrived Sunday for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as part of a four-nation tour to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the push for recognition of Iraq's transitional government.

Last week, the Arab League declined to recognize the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, saying it would wait for the Iraqis to elect their government.

But subsequently UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov spoke in favor of recognizing the Governing Council as a transitional government.

Abdullah flew to Cairo on Sunday afternoon from Damascus, where he had talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Syria, which opposed the US-British invasion of Iraq, is known to be reluctant to recognize the Governing Council, saying it needs to show it has the support of the Iraqi people.

In a statement at the end of crown prince's visit, Syria's official news agency SANA did not mention Iraq, saying only that the Abdullah-Assad talks dealt with the Arab search for "unified positions."

The United States is pressing for universal recognition for the Governing Council. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns is scheduled to meet Mubarak in Cairo on Monday morning, shortly before the Egyptian president holds a second round of talks with Abdullah.

Abdullah met Mubarak shortly after his arrival. The crown prince, who effectively leads his country as King Fahd is ailing, also will visit Morocco and Russia for talks on Iraq and the Palestinian-Israeli dispute, according to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, who is accompanying him.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa has accused Israel of violating the U.S.-backed "road map" plan for peace by continuing to build a fence that the Israeli government says will protect its people from attacks by Palestinian militants. The plan aims to set up an independent Palestinian state by 2005.

The Arab world was deeply divided by the invasion of Iraq and its subsequent occupation by US and British forces. While a few Arab nations gave low-key support to the invasion, most opposed it.

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