Bush Hopeful On Easing Oil Prices

President Bush is hopeful that OPEC will authorise an increase in oil production to ease pressure on prices, following a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, writes Associated Press.

After the meeting, the White House press secretary announced that OPEC was "encouraged to authorise an increase in production".

Earlier this week, France's President Nicolas Sarkozy signed oil and gas agreements with the Saudi King and pressed for lower crude prices.

Bush's eight-day trip to the Middle East will end with a visit to Egypt.

By staff writer