US President George W Bush has arrived in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for talks with Arab leaders.

Mr Bush will discuss the Middle East peace process with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II.

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The BBC's Christian Fraser at the talks says there is little hope for the Israeli-Palestinian peace deal Mr Bush wants by the time he leaves office.

'Peace over'

Our correspondent says Mr Bush will spend the weekend trying to balance the support he has shown the Israelis during the past week with his country's wider strategic interests in the Arab World.

Mr Bush received a warm welcome from his Egyptian counterpart, but among those gathered there is little confidence that the meetings will result in any significant progress, our correspondent says.

An editorial in Egypt's main state-owned newspaper, al-Ahram, said the Israeli-Palestinian peace process was effectively over under Mr Bush.

After meeting President Mubarak at a luxury hotel overlooking the Red Sea, Mr Bush will hold talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Mr Abbas.

A White House spokesman said Mr Bush would "make clear... that the Palestinian people deserve a state" while with the Palestinian Authority president.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak is expected to press again for the release of the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, as a condition of any truce with Hamas, the militant group which controls Gaza.

Mr Bush will also hold talks with Jordan's King Abdullah, Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Iraqi officials on Sunday at the World Economic Forum, which he is due to address.

(BBC)

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