| Saudi Arabia and Iraq yesterday agreed to restore diplomatic relations broken off 13 years ago, as US Secretary of State Colin Powell began talks with Saudi leaders here on Iraq, terrorism and the Palestinian issue and was due to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, also visiting the Kingdom. Allawi told reporters that the two countries would reopen their land border, closed in 1990. "We have agreed to open up embassies between Saudi Arabia and Iraq," Allawi told reporters. Asked how soon the embassies would open, Allawi said "from today", but did not elaborate. Powell, on a Middle East and European tour, met with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah shortly after his arrival. He was greeted after flying in from Cairo by Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal. |