Obama aims to soothe Saudi fears with Riyadh visit

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* Obama's first visit to kingdom since 2009 * Riyadh was worried by perceived US rapprochement with Iran * Visit will reinforce "most important relationship" - Rice By Matt Spetalnick and Angus McDowall WASHINGTON/RIYADH, March 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will seek to ease Saudi concerns that he is neglecting an old ally when he visits Riyadh on Friday, months after top Saudis objected to what they saw as a growing rapprochement between Washington and their rival Iran. Rifts over Middle East policy came to a head last year when Washington worked with other powers to ease sanctions on Iran in exchange for concessions on its disputed nuclear programme, and backed away from air strikes on Tehran's ally Syria.

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