Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh started Saturday a trip to Europe and the US for high-level talks on the current international political atmosphere and other mutual concerns.
Talks will also focus on the latest developments in regional, Arab and international issues, notably Palestinian question at the heart of the Middle East dispute.
The president will make his first stop in the Netherlands, then proceeds to the US, where he will sign a security accord.
Then he will fly to France, and later to Germany, Yemen’s official news agency (SAPA) reported.
Saleh told reporters at the airport that his talks in the four countries would cover "bilateral cooperation and recent regional and world developments, notably the Palestinian cause, Afghanistan and anti-terrorist efforts," AFP said.
Saleh was to meet Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok later Saturday.
The Yemeni president is due at the White House on Tuesday to see US President George W. Bush and to sign a "cooperation agreement covering security, intelligence and economic issues," a Yemeni official said.
After Washington, AFP said, Saleh is due in Paris on Nov. 30 for talks with President Jacques Chirac. A major Yemeni gas project led by France's TotalFinaElf will be on the agenda.
Saleh will then travel on to Germany – Albawaba.com
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