US President leaves for Middle East trip

US President Barack Obama has left for a trip to the Middle East to improve relations with Muslim countries.

Obama will visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and make a speech to Muslims on Thursday in the Egyptian capital Cairo. He's expected to discuss US overtures to Iran, the Mideast peace process and Saudi Arabia's willingness to accept Yemeni prisoners from Guantanamo.

Obama will attempt to smooth US relations with the Muslim world, after his predecessor George W. Bush's actions strained that relationship with his invasion of Iraq and the war on terror.