TEHRAN Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan arrived Abu Dhabi Wednesday as part of a Persian Gulf tour that will also take him to Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, Associated Press said. The four-day regional tour is meant to further consolidate ties between the Persian Gulf nations, the Saudi Press agency reported. Ties between Saudi Arabia and the emirates deteriorated last month over improved relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Iran-Saudi rapprochement has been most noticeable since the 1997 election of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. The emirates has complained that the improved ties between the two former foes ignored its long-running dispute with Iran over three islands in the Strait of Hormuz. Prince Sultan told reporters at the airport that there were no disagreements among members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) alliance -- Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. "We assert there are no disagreements among the PGCC members who always cooperate and support each other's causes," Reuters quoted Prince Sultan as saying.

He said he hoped "our neighbour, sister and friend Iran" would cooperate in ending all disagreements with the PGCC states. (AP)