By DPA
London : British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia held political talks here Wednesday as protests over the visit of the Saudi monarch continued.
Government officials said the situation in Iraq, Iran’s nuclear programme, the Middle East conflict and cooperation over anti-terrorism were among the topics raised over lunch at Downing Street.
The face-to-face talks came after Brown attended a glittering banquet for the king at the Buckingham Palace Tuesday evening, and amid continuing protests over arms deals and alleged human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia.
In his speech at the banquet, King Abdullah spoke of the “ominous signs of war and conflict in the world” and called on Muslims in Britain “to be honest and upright Muslims and worthy British citizens.”
“Throughout the world today, there are ominous signs of war and conflict and in the face of these threatening dangers it is essential that we equip ourselves with wisdom and courage so that we may not slip into the abyss,” the king said.
He was later due to meet Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, and the leader of the opposition Conservative Party, David Cameron.
Human rights groups and some Labour members of parliament were later due to take part in a protest outside the Saudi embassy in the British capital.