Special report:Tension escalates in Iraq 

    WASHINGTON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush discussed the Middle East peace, Iraq and Iran with Saudi King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Friday, White House spokesman Tony Snow said.

    "The president spoke to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. They discussed the effort to advance toward a Palestinian state and also peace between Israelis and Palestinians," Snow said.

    They also talked about Iran, the situation in Lebanon, and Bush "thanked the king for Saudi Arabia's participation in the recent conference in Iraq," Snow said.

    As to Mubarak, Bush thanked him for Egypt's participation in the Iraq conference.

    "They discussed the situation in Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian situation, Lebanon, and a forthcoming trip to the region by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice," Snow said.

    Both Saudi Arabia and Egypt have been allies of the United States in the Middle East region.