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Saudi Arabia fears the violence spreading over its own borders. Its own Shi'ite minority is concentrated in the oil-rich eastern region near Iran and Iraq.
Saudi policy wants to ensure that the U.S. security umbrella in the region remains in place to protect the world's biggest oil exporter from radical and envious neighbours, Western diplomats in Riyadh said.
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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Riyadh last week and obtained Saudi backing for the U.S. plan to send more troops to pacify Iraq this year, though Saudi officials expressed reservations over the intentions of Iraq's Shi'ite leadership.
"After the visit and Saudi approval of the U.S. plan, the king (Abdullah) has said 'stop' (the arguments)," said Mustafa Alani, an Iraqi analyst visiting Riyadh.
"The Saudis were worried by the Baker-Hamilton report that the Americans would negotiate with Iran. But they got assurances on Iraq, (Saudi) security and containment of Iran," he said.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L25659918.htm