USA: COLIN POWELL LEAVES FOR MIDDLE EAST

(24 Feb 2001) English/Nat U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell left for the Middle East on Friday - his first big overseas trip in the new position. He wants to improve U-S relations with countries in the region, especially in light of the bombing in Iraq last week. He'll be sounding out prospects for renewed Mideast peace negotiations and for maintaining U-N sanctions against Iraq. In a trip that will take him to six countries in four days, Powell is scheduled to meet with leaders of Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinians. He also plans talks with the secretary-general of NATO, European leaders meeting in Brussels, and will meet with Russia's foreign minister to discuss President Bush's plan to set up a missile-defense shield. Mr Powell will also visit Kuwait to mark the ten years since the U-S and its allies drove Saddam Hussein's Iraqi army out of the neighbouring nation state in the Gulf War. At the time, Mr Powell was Chief of Staff on the U-S Army then headed by President George Bush - the father of the current president. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...