Obama embarks on his first regional Middle East mission

US president Barack Obama embarked on his first regional Middle East mission, seeking Arab backing for his bid to revive peace moves while a US confrontation steadily builds with Israel.

On a trip marked by his long-awaited address to the Muslim world in Cairo tomorrow, Obama will also attempt to prod moribund regional peace diplomacy back to life. He first visits Saudi Arabia for talks with King Abdullah, who has tried to re-launch a 2002 Arab-backed initiative.

Obama says he is confident of reviving meaningful talks between Israel and Palestine, but the White House has been coy on his strategy.