Kerry talks to Saudis about Syria, Mideast peace

[June 25, 2013]  JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Saudi Arabia talking with leaders of the Gulf nation about how to stem the bloodshed in Syria and nudge forward a renewed effort to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Kerry flew to Jiddah on Tuesday after a two-day visit to India. The two stops are part of his two-week tour of Asia and the Middle East.

Syria is a major issue at nearly every stop. The war is increasingly pitting Sunni Muslims against Shiite Muslims and threatening the stability of the region. Saudi Arabia, a Sunni power, is a strong backer of Western-backed rebels trying to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad.

[Associated Press; By DEB RIECHMANN]

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