Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, left, seen with Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, during a meeting at al-Shaab presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday Oct. 7, 2009. The Saudi monarch arrived in Damascus Wednesday for a highly significant visit that is the strongest indication yet of thawing relations between the two rival nations following years of tension. King Abdullah's visit on Wednesday is the first by a Saudi ruler since the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a close Saudi ally. AP Photo logo AP Photo 1 month ago

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, left, seen with Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, during a meeting at al-Shaab presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday Oct. 7, 2009. The Saudi monarch arrived in Damascus Wednesday for a highly significant visit that is the strongest indication yet of thawing relations between the two rival nations following years of tension. King Abdullah's visit on Wednesday is the first by a Saudi ruler since the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a close Saudi ally.

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  1. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia during the exchange a legion of honour, at the al-Shaeb presidential palace in Damascus October 7,2009. King Abdullah arrived in Damascus on Wednesday on a visit aimed at reconciling with Syria and forging a common Arab stance on issues regarding Lebanon, the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional and international alliances to help stabilise the Middle East, political sources said.
  2. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia review an honour guard in Damascus October 7,2009. King Abdullah arrived in Damascus on Wednesday on a visit aimed at reconciling with Syria and forging a common Arab stance on issues regarding Lebanon, the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional and international alliances to help stabilise the Middle East, political sources said.
  3. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia wave to journalists in Damascus October 7,2009. King Abdullah arrived in Damascus on Wednesday on a visit aimed at reconciling with Syria and forging a common Arab stance on issues regarding Lebanon, the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional and international alliances to help stabilise the Middle East, political sources said.
  4. Jordan's King Abdullah (R) speaks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the Royal Palace in Amman on October 5, 2009.
  5. Jordan's King Abdullah (R) meets Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit (C) and Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman (R) at the Royal Palace in Amman on October 5, 2009.
  6. Jordan's King Abdullah (R) meets Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit (C) and Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman (R) at Royal Palace in Amman on October 5, 2009.
  7. Jordan's King Abdullah (R) meets with Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abu El Gheit at the Royal Palace in Amman October 5, 2009.
  8. THUWAL, SAUDI ARABIA - SEPTEMBER 23: In this handout image provided by KAUST, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, addresses guests during the inauguration of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) on September 23, 2009 in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. KAUST is a graduate-level research institution that has attracted top scientists and students from around the world.
  9. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the son of slain former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, reacts as he prays at his father grave, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Monday Nov. 9, 2009. Hariri has formed a 30-member Cabinet including Hezbollah and its allies, after more than four months of tough wrangling and bargaining over who would get which Cabinet positions. Hariri's Cabinet is the first since the June parliamentary elections in which his Western- and Saudi-backed bloc defeated a Hezbollah-led coalition which is supported by Iran and Syria, retaining a slim majority in the 128-member legislature.
  10. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the son of slain former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, reacts, as he prays at his father grave, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Monday Nov. 9, 2009. Hariri has formed a 30-member Cabinet including Hezbollah and its allies, after more than four months of tough wrangling and bargaining over who would get which Cabinet positions. Hariri's Cabinet is the first since the June parliamentary elections in which his Western- and Saudi-backed bloc defeated a Hezbollah-led coalition which is supported by Iran and Syria, retaining a slim majority in the 128-member legislature.
  11. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the son of slain former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, prays at his father grave in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Monday Nov. 9, 2009. Hariri has formed a 30-member Cabinet including Hezbollah and its allies, after more than four months of tough wrangling and bargaining over who would get which Cabinet positions. Hariri's Cabinet is the first since the June parliamentary elections in which his Western- and Saudi-backed bloc defeated a Hezbollah-led coalition which is supported by Iran and Syria, retaining a slim majority in the 128-member legislature.
  12. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, right, the son of slain former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, prays at his father grave in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Monday Nov. 9, 2009. Hariri has formed a 30-member Cabinet including Hezbollah and its allies, after more than four months of tough wrangling and bargaining over who would get which Cabinet positions. Hariri's Cabinet is the first since the June parliamentary elections in which his Western- and Saudi-backed bloc defeated a Hezbollah-led coalition which is supported by Iran and Syria, retaining a slim majority in the 128-member legislature.
  13. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, left, and Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, seen, upon their arrival at al-Shaab presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, on Wednesday Oct. 7, 2009. The Saudi monarch arrived in Damascus Wednesday for a highly significant visit that is the strongest indication yet of thawing relations between the two rival nations following years of tension. King Abdullah's visit on Wednesday is the first by a Saudi ruler since the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a close Saudi ally.
  14. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, right, is welcomed by Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, as they review Syrian honor guard at al-Shaab presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday Oct. 7, 2009. The Saudi monarch arrived in Damascus for a highly significant visit that is the strongest indication yet of thawing relations between the two rival nations following years of tension. King Abdullah's visit on Wednesday is the first by a Saudi ruler since the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a close Saudi ally.
  15. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, left, meets with Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, at al-Shaab presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday Oct. 7, 2009. The Saudi monarch arrived in Damascus Wednesday for a highly significant visit that is the strongest indication yet of thawing relations between the two rival nations following years of tension. King Abdullah's visit on Wednesday is the first by a Saudi ruler since the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a close Saudi ally.
  16. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, reacts, as he reviews Syrian honor guard, upon his arrival at al-Shaab presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday Oct. 7, 2009. The Saudi monarch arrived in Damascus Wednesday for a highly significant visit that is the strongest indication yet of thawing relations between the two rival nations following years of tension. King Abdullah's visit on Wednesday is the first by a Saudi ruler since the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a close Saudi ally.

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  1. Italian Team Azzurra, led by skipper Francesco Bruni, competes against Emirates Team New Zealand (R), led by skipper Dean Barker, during the final of the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Nice, southeastern France, November 22, 2009. Team Azzurra won.
  2. A Romanian Roma child looks out from a voting booth at a polling station in Sintesti, near Bucharest November 22, 2009. Romanians vote on Sunday in a closely-fought presidential election that is key to reviving economic and justice reforms and solving a government crisis that has delayed aid from the International Monetary Fund.
  3. Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak (R) listens to his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres during a news conference in Cairo November 22, 2009. Peres held discussions in Egypt to restart Middle East peace talks after Mubarak accused Israel of creating obstacles to a settlement with the Palestinians.
  4. Rescuers check recovered bodies of victims of a sunken ferry, on a ship at port in Karimun island, Riau province November 22, 2009. An overloaded ferry sank in bad weather off Indonesia's Riau islands on Sunday, killing four while nearly 300 passengers survived the accident, officials said.
  5. England's captain Andrew Strauss looks back as he leaves the crease after being dismissed by South Africa's bowler Charl Langeveldt, unseen, during the One-Day International cricket match at Supersport Park in Centurion, South Africa, Sunday Nov. 22, 2009.
  6. PORTHCAWL, UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 22: Waves batter the harbour wall on November 22, 2009 in Porthcawl, Wales. As fresh gale force winds and heavy rain sweeps across the UK, a major rescue operation is continuing after severe weather conditions caused flooding cutting off villages and towns in England's Lake District.
  7. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 22: Michael Buble (C) performs with Idol finalists Hayley Warner and Stan Walker during the 2009 Australian Idol Final at the Sydney Opera House on November 22, 2009 in Sydney, Australia.
  8. Local people show the spots hit by splinters on the closed door of a shop near the site of a blast in a market near a police station in Nalbari, about 75 kilometers (47 miles) west of Gauhati, India, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Suspected militants set off two bombs outside a police station in India's restive northeast on Sunday.
  9. Security personnel guard the civil hospital where injured blast victims are admitted in Nalbari, about 75 kilometers (47 miles) west of Gauhati, India, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Suspected militants set off two bombs outside a police station in India's restive northeast on Sunday. Police said the bicycle balls were used in place of splinters in the bombs.
  10. A doctor, left, treats Kulen Mahanta, 21, a blast victim at the civil hospital in Nalbari, about 75 kilometers (47 miles) west of Gauhati, India, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Suspected militants set off two bombs outside a police station in India's restive northeast on Sunday. Police said the bicycle balls were used in place of splinters in the bombs.
  11. BEITOSTOELEN, NORWAY - NOVEMBER 22: Team Norway I (L-R) Kristin Stoermer Steira, Marit Bjoergen, Vibeke W. Skofterud and Therese Johaug of Norway finishing second in the Women's 4x5km Cross Country Relay Skiing during day two of the FIS World Cup on November 22, 2009 in Beitostoelen, Norway.
  12. PORTHCAWL, UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 22: Waves batter the harbour wall on November 22, 2009 in Porthcawl, Wales. As fresh gale force winds and heavy rain sweeps across the UK, a major rescue operation is continuing after severe weather conditions caused flooding cutting off villages and towns in England's Lake District.
  13. BEITOSTOELEN, NORWAY - NOVEMBER 22: Team Finland (L-R) with Pirjo Muranen, Virpi Kuitunen, Riitta Liisa Roponen and Aino Kaisa Saarinen finishing third in the Women's 4x5km Cross Country Relay Skiing during day two of the FIS World Cup on November 22, 2009 in Beitostoelen, Norway.
  14. BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 22: Shane Warne of the ACA All*Stars bowls during the Twenty20 exhibition match between Australia and the ACA All*Stars at The Gabba on November 22, 2009 in Brisbane, Australia.
  15. Indian army soldiers inspect the site of a blast in a market near a police station in Nalbari, about 75 kilometers (47 miles) west of Gauhati, India, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Suspected militants set off two bombs outside a police station in India's restive northeast on Sunday.
  16. Tibetan exiles prepare an art work on the floor using colored powder at Thank You India festival in Bangalore, India, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Tibetan exiles in India are observing a three-day Thank You India Festival in Bangalore starting Sunday to commemorate 50 years in exile of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people, and to express gratitude to India.