Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Some leaders in the Muslim world say President Barack Obama should dive into Mideast peace efforts right away.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak pressed Barack Obama in a congratulatory cable to make the Middle East -- in particular the Palestinians -- a priority.

A hard-line Islamist in Pakistan welcomes President Obama's words of outreach. The leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party is hoping he "really takes a new course of action" toward what he says are injustices the Muslim world is facing.

Iran's foreign minister says Tehran is waiting to see what "practical policies" the new president will adopt before making any judgment about his stance toward Iran.

The two countries have been at odds over Iran's nuclear program and what U.S. officials say has been Iran's support of Shiite militiamen in Iraq.