Cheney in London on first leg of Mideast tour

Cheney and wife Lynne depart Sunday on a trip to Britain and the Middle East.

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Vice President Dick Cheney arrived Sunday evening in London, the first stop on a 10-day, 12-nation tour that will focus on the war on terrorism, the Middle East crisis and possible U.S. military action against Iraq.

The traveling party with the vice president underscored the dual challenges of Cheney's trip.

Cheney is accompanied by a top State Department official on Middle East issues and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the White House's top counterterrorism official, and a brigadier general who is a top aide to Gen. Tommy Franks, the chief of U.S. forces in the region.

Also on the trip is the vice president's wife, Lynne Cheney.

In Washington, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said Iraq was one of several topics Cheney would discuss but "it is of concern to everyone."

"He'll talk about the war on terrorism," Rice said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "He'll talk about the situation in the Middle East. He will also, of course, talk about Iraq. Everybody talks about Iraq."

Rice said President Bush "has made no decision about the use of force against Iraq" but remains adamant that the "status quo with Saddam Hussein is not acceptable."

Iraq, one of three nations Bush has called part of an "axis of evil," is under pressure to allow U.N. weapons inspectors to return and investigate whether the nation is harboring weapons of mass destruction.

Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan said Sunday his country would never allow U.N. weapons inspectors to return, accusing them of spying, according to the official Iraqi News Agency. (Full Story)

A senior U.S. official said that although Cheney will not signal any imminent military action against the Iraqi president, he will make clear the U.S. resolve to confront Iraq -- with military force if necessary -- over what the United States says is a continued Iraqi effort to gather weapons of mass destruction in violation of agreements struck with the United Nations at the end of the Persian Gulf War.

Cheney is expected to meet Monday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has been a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led anti-terrorism campaign.

The vice president's visit to London coincides with the six-month observance of the September 11 attacks, which claimed a number of British lives, and the two men were expected to make a joint statement on the day to reporters after their meeting.

In addition to Britain, Cheney will visit Israel and several Arab countries, including Oman, Egypt, Yemen, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

In the Arab states, U.S. officials expect pressure for more vigorous White House attention to Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Officials traveling with Cheney cited as a positive development Sunday's word from the Israeli government that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon favors lifting a travel ban on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Cheney also will stress the need for Arab nations to strengthen their intelligence and law enforcement efforts within the region and with the United States.

He will stress U.S. concerns that al Qaeda operatives are seeking a new major base of operations in the region, particularly in Yemen, U.S. officials said.

Because of security considerations, Cheney's exact itinerary has not been disclosed. Security is extremely tight for the trip to the region.

In an unusual move, Cheney left for the region in the 747 jet that normally serves as Air Force One when it carries the president. When a vice president is aboard, it is known as Air Force Two.

-- CNN Senior White House Correspondent John King contributed to this report.