Obama in Saudi Arabia to bolster crucial alliance amid Mid-East unrest

Riyadh

US President Barack Obama arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to pay his respects after the death of King Abdullah, a trip that underscores the importance of a US-Saudi alliance that extends beyond oil interests to regional security.

Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters Mr Obama wanted to discuss with the new Saudi King Salman the fight against Islamic State, the volatile situation in Yemen and talks on ending a long-running dispute about Iran's nuclear ambitions.