Barack Obama presses for Middle East reform

US President Barack Obama says the US has opened a "new chapter" in diplomacy after the Arab Spring uprisings.In a speech at the state department, Mr Obama said the future of the US was bound to the Middle East by forces of economics, security, history and fate."It will be the policy of the US to promote reform, and to support transitions to democracy," he said.The speech was Mr Obama's first comprehensive response to revolts sweeping the Arab world, analysts say.

"We face a historic opportunity," he said. "We have a chance to show that America values the dignity of a street vendor in Tunisia more than the raw power of the dictator."

"As Americans have been seared by hostage taking, violent rhetoric, and terrorist attacks that have killed thousands of our citizens - a failure to change our approach [in the Middle East] threatens a deepening spiral of division between the United States and Muslim communities," Mr Obama added.

Key points in Mr Obama's speech:

• In the months ahead the US must use all its resources to encourage reform in North Africa and the Middle East
• Will cut $1bn of debt for a democratic Egypt and work to create Enterprise Funds to invest in Tunisia and Egypt
• Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must lead a political transition or "get out of the way"
• US will continue to insist the Iranian people deserve their universal rights, and a government that does not smother their aspirations
• Mass arrests and brute force in Bahrain are at odds with the universal rights of Bahrain's citizens.
• The borders of Israel and a Palestinian state should be based on pre-1967 borders with agreed swaps; Source;BBC 

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