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. AP Photo logo AP Photo 1 month ago

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.

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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. Zulfiya Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan celebrates with her coaches as she makes her record to tie the world record in the clean and jerk during the 20th women's group A 53-kilogram category of the World Weightlifting Championships in Goyang, west of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Zulfiya won the gold medal scoring total of 219 kilograms.
  2. England's bowler Tim Bresnan, second from left, celebrates with teammates after dismissing South Africa's captain Graeme Smith, unseen, for 12 runs during the One-Day International cricket match at Supersport Park in Centurion, South Africa, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009.
  3. Chen Xiaoting of China strains in the clean and jerk during the 20th women's group A 53-kilogram category of the World Weightlifting Championships in Goyang, west of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Chen won the silver medal scoring total of 218 kilograms.
  4. Chen Xiaoting of China strains in the clean and jerk during the 20th women's group A 53-kilogram category of the World Weightlifting Championships in Goyang, west of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Chen won the silver medal scoring total of 218 kilograms.
  5. A Palestinian man, injured during an Israeli air strike on a smuggling tunnel under the border between Egypt and Rafah, tries to prevent from a photographer to shoot him at the Najar hospital in the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. The Israeli military said its aircraft have attacked two weapons-making factories and a smuggling tunnel in the Gaza Strip early Sunday in retaliation for rocket fired into southern Israel from Gaza a day earlier.
  6. Zulfiya Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan strains as she records the tie world record in the clean and jerk during the 20th women's group A 53-kilogram category of the World Weightlifting Championships in Goyang, west of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Zulfiya won the gold medal scoring total of 219 kilograms.
  7. DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 22: Ross Fisher of England (L) shakes hands with Martin Kaymer of Germany on the 18th green during the final round of the Dubai World Championship on the Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 22, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
  8. Gold medallist Zulfiya Chinsanio of Kazakhstan poses for photographs on a podium after she won the women's 53kg weightlifting competition at the World Weightlifting Championship in Goyang, north of Seoul, November 22, 2009.
  9. BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 22: Lauren Colthorpe of the Roar contests the ball with Lauren Chilvers of Adelaide during the round eight W-League match between the Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United at Ballymore Stadium on November 22, 2009 in Brisbane, Australia.
  10. MIAMI BEACH, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Alex Gonzalez attends The Rally For Kids With Cancer - Start Your Engines Brunch at Eden Roc Resort on November 21, 2009 in Miami Beach, Florida.
  11. An elderly Romanian exits a voting booth at a polling station in Bucharest November 22, 2009. Romanians voted 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.
  12. (L to R) Silver medallist Chen Xiaoting of China, gold medallist Zulfiya Chinsanio of Kazakhstan and bronze medallist Yoon Jin-hee of South Korea pose for photographs on a podium in the women's 53kg weightlifting competition at the World Weightlifting Championship in Goyang, north of Seoul, November 22, 2009.
  13. BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 22: David Warner of Australia plays a cut shot during the Twenty20 exhibition match between Australia and the ACA All*Stars at The Gabba on November 22, 2009 in Brisbane, Australia.
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  15. MIAMI BEACH, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Adam Gregory attends The Rally For Kids With Cancer - Start Your Engines Brunch at Eden Roc Resort on November 21, 2009 in Miami Beach, Florida.
  16. Crin Antonescu, leader of Romania's National Liberal Party, casts his ballot at a polling station in Bucharest November 22, 2009. Romanians voted 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.