World

Egyptians, Saudis fault Bush speech

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Saudi and Egyptian reformers bristled Thursday at President Bush's call in his State of the Union address for greater reform in their countries, dismissing the speech as patronizing and unproductive. "The government of Saudi Arabia can demonstrate its leadership in the region by expanding the role of its people in determining their future," Bush said. "And the great and proud nation of Egypt, which showed the way toward peace in the Middle East, can now show the way toward democracy in the Middle East." Bush also singled out Iran and Syria for supporting terrorism, even as he called for a free Palestinian state. Reformers in Saudi Arabia planning for the country's first elections said his statements would undermine their credibility. "This kind of talk is always frustrating," said a Saudi commentator, Khalid al-Farm, head of the Arab Media Association and an independent observer for next week's elections. "In essence he's saying the same thing we are, but all he's doing is putting the government and the reformers in a tight position."