Bush wraps up visit to Middle East

US President George W. Bush sought to reassure skeptical Arabs yesterday he is committed to securing a deal on Palestinian statehood before he leaves office, despite his outspoken support for Israel.

Wrapping up his Middle East tour in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Bush was looking to ease Palestinian dismay over his visit to Israel, where he lavished the Jewish state with praise, hailing it as a "homeland for the chosen people".

Bush used a speech to a mostly Arab audience at the World Economic Forum in Sharm el-Sheikh yesterday to insist he "firmly believes" a Middle East peace agreement can be reached this year - a deadline widely viewed as unrealistic.