The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, London

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia had a "meeting of minds" in talks Wednesday with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on taking forward the Middle East peace process, a spokesman said. On the second official day of the king's lavish state visit to Britain -- which has been marked by human rights protests -- the two leaders had "very positive" discussions on Middle East regional issues, a spokesman for the prime minister's office told AFP. Brown did not bring up human rights issues with the king, though they have been raised separately during his visit, the spokesman said. Britain sees Saudi Arabia as a key partner for economic ties, Middle East regional stability and combating Islamist extremism. However, critics of the kingdom's human rights record are unhappy at the welcome afforded to its octogenarian monarch. Getting down to business following Tuesday's pomp and ceremony, the king visited Brown at his office in Downing Street in London.

"They mainly discussed the Middle East peace process looking ahead to the Annapolis," the spokesman said, referring to the peace conference in Maryland scheduled for later this year.