King Hussein to U.S. today

The Jordanian monarch, King Hussein, will head today to the U.S. for a formal visit lasting for several days.

A Jordanian source told ArabicNews.com that King Hussein will hold talks with U.S. President Bill Clinton on June 15 about the U.S. suggestions concerning the enhancement of the peace process in the Middle East, especially on the Palestinian - Israeli track.

The source also said that King Hussein will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright where they will tackle the outcomes of the king's discussions with Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai on Sunday.

Jordan has been under pressure to agree to an Arab Summit that may call for a boycott of Israel, something that Jordan said it does not want to do. These latest efforts by Jordan are seen by some as an intensified effort to find a solution that would solve the deadlock in the Israel-Palestinian negotiations, which would lessen the need for an Arab Summit and would soften its adopted resolutions if held, and would lessen internal support for Jordanians who support a boycott of Israel.

King Hussein will start his visit to the US with medical tests at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.