Condoleezza Rice

   U.S. officials have sought to play down expectations for the trip, Rice's eighth to the region and have suggested she is testing possible initiatives to nudge Israel and the Palestinians closer to a political accommodation. Saeb Erekat told the media that Rice's agenda during her Mideast trip would not include talks on setting up a Palestinian state. "We're going to get an opportunity to see whether or not this is working, whether or not the Iraqis are living up to their obligations," Rice said. US secretary of state Rice's weeklong tour of the Middle East and Europe will also take her to Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Germany and Britain. She will visit Arab capitals to rally support for President Bush's new strategy in Iraq. Rice warned that the US will oppose any Iranian or Syrian interference in Iraq media reported. On Friday, Gerge W. Bush sought support for his new Iraq military build up in telephone calls to Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. (16,09)