Saudis deny petrol deal to help Bush's re-election

Saudi Arabia has denied accusations in Bob Woodward’s latest book that it made a secret agreement with the White House to take steps to lower petrol prices before the November elections.

“The allegation that the kingdom is manipulating the price of oil for political purposes or to affect elections is erroneous and has no basis in fact,” said a statement issued in Riyadh by top Saudi foreign policy adviser Adel al-Jubeir.