Cowen begins four-day Mid-East trip

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, will begin four days of talks with Middle Eastern leaders later today.

Mr Cowen will meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak before flying to Israel for talks with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.

He will also meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during his visit.

Mr Cowen hopes to acquaint himself with all the main players in the Middle Eastern conflict before Ireland takes over the chairmanship of the UN security council later this year.