Putin Begins Trip to Mideast           10/14 06:15

   Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed in Saudi Arabia on a trip to the 
kingdom.

   DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has 
landed in Saudi Arabia on a trip to the kingdom.

   Putin's plane landed just after 1:30 p.m. Monday in Riyadh. An honor guard 
of Saudi soldiers greeted Putin as he came down the stairs of his plane.

   Putin's visit comes after King Salman traveled to Moscow on a state visit in 
October 2017. It also comes as the kingdom tries to strike a closer 
relationship with Russia, especially as it has joined OPEC in limiting its oil 
production to help boost global energy prices.

   Russia along with Iran meanwhile has aided Syrian President Bashar Assad, 
whom the kingdom long opposed in his country's civil war.

   Putin also will visit the United Arab Emirates on his Mideast trip.


(KR)