France Deals With Arab Oil

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy has signed oil and gas agreements with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah as the French leader pressed for lower crude prices from the world's top oil producer.

The value of the agreements, signed during a visit to the kingdom this weekend, are unknown.

Sarkozy has also offered the king the services of France's Atomic Energy Commission to explore the possibilities of a civil nuclear energy program in Saudi Arabia, writes Associated Press.

US President George Bush is also visiting the Middle East to gain regional support in containing Iran's growing influence in a region crucial to world crude oil supplies, writes Reuters.

By staff writer