"We do not want to link international aid to the Palestinian people with considerations other than their terrible humanitarian needs," said Prince Saud.

ABU DHABI, February 24, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday, February 24, wrapped up a Middle East tour with a failure to mobilize Arab states to isolate a Hamas-led Palestinian government and a "symbolic" call for nuclear non-proliferation in the Gulf region.

Rice's bid to isolate was rebuffed by the region's two heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which refused to deny aid and support to the already cash-strapped Palestinian Authority (PA), Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported Friday.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal made clear that Riyadh would continue to back the PA financially.

"We do not want to link international aid to the Palestinian people with considerations other than their terrible humanitarian needs," Saud told a press conference held jointly with Rice.

Before arriving in Saudi Arabia, Rice held talks in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak which also focused on the aftermath of Hamas's victory.

During a joint press conference with Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on Tuesday, February 21, she reiterated her administration's stance on Hamas: "You cannot have one foot in the camp of terror and another foot in the camp of politics."

Egypt argues that Washington, which has pushed for greater democracy in the Middle East, had to respect the outcome of the democratic Palestinian elections and should not rush to boycott a government led by Hamas.

"We should give Hamas time," Abul Gheit said. "I'm sure that Hamas will develop, will evolve. We should not prejudge the issue."

The US and EU have demanded that Hamas, which cruised to a landslide parliamentary election victory in January, "renounce violence," disarm and change its charter on the destruction of Israel or risk losing foreign aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.

Hamas reiterated frequently that it would neither recognize Israel nor negotiate with Tel Aviv until the latter recognized Palestinian rights, accusing the West of practicing blackmail.

Former Palestinian finance minister Salam Fayad held a first set of talks with Hamas leader Mahmud Al-Zahar Thursday, February 23, about the possibility of joining a new coalition government.

Hamas is currently holding talks with a range of parties and independents about joining a broad-based coalition government. The faction's top candidate in the elections, Ismail Haniya, is to be prime minister.

"We should give Hamas time," Abul Gheit said.

Eying Iran, Rice has further got a "symbolic" call from the Gulf states for a nukes-free region.

Rice and foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) "stressed their fears and serious concerns with regards to the dangers of this (nuclear) proliferation in the region," said a joint statement issued following their meeting in Abu Dhabi.

Both parties reaffirmed "the necessity of keeping the Gulf area free from weapons of mass destruction," but fell short of criticizing neighboring Iran, which the West has accused of seeking to develop nuclear arms, a charge rejected by non-Arab Tehran.

The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

During her visit to the UAE, Rice discussed the controversial takeover of operations at six major US ports by the Dubai-based DP World, underscoring that "the UAE was a good friend and strong ally in fighting terror," said a US State Department official traveling with Rice.

In London on Friday, DP World said it had agreed to delay taking control of the US ports as part of its purchase of ports and ferry operator P and O, in the wake of US opposition to the deal on security grounds.

But it insisted that its buyout of P and O for about 5.7 billion euros ($6.8 billion) should not be delayed beyond the agreed closing date of March 2.