Iran president to Saudi on first official trip

TEHRAN, March 3 (Reuters) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left today for his first official trip to Saudi Arabia, a US ally that is leading a diplomatic drive to curb Tehran's growing influence in Lebanon and Iraq.

Tehran is also under pressure over what the West says are plans to build atomic bombs under cover of a civilian nuclear programme, a charge Iran denies. Riyadh shares US suspicions.

Iranian state radio said talks between Ahmadinejad and Saudi officials, including King Abdullah, would cover ''changes in the region and Islamic world, expanding mutual ties, the situation in West Asia and Iran's nuclear case''.

It said Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and other senior officials were in the delegation which left for Saudi Arabia.

An Iranian official earlier said Ahmadinejad would stay in the kingdom until tomorrow.

Riyadh has accused Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias of sectarian killings of Sunni Iraqis.

Saudi Arabia, a Sunni bastion, and other US-allied Arab governments are also concerned that Shi'ite Muslim Iran is gaining influence in Lebanon by supporting Hezbollah in its conflict with the US-backed government of Fouad Siniora.

Saudi and Iranian officials have met several times to mediate between Lebanese opposition forces led by Hezbollah, which is also backed by Syria, and the Siniora government.

REUTERS SP PM1649