Cook in Saudi Arabia today

British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook is to arrive today at Riyadh for an official visit to Saudi Arabia, the first since he assumed office in May, 1997.

A statement circulated by the British embassy in Riyadh said that during the visit Cook will meet with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud al-Faisal, to brief him on efforts made by the British government to maintain a diplomatic solution to the Iraqi crisis. Cook's visit comes two days after US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Riyadh for the same purpose.

The statement added that later in the day Cook will hold a similar visit to Kuwait and he will be back home to London on Friday.