From correspondents in London, England, 06:01 PM IST

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is planning to travel to the Middle East later this month to discuss ways of tackling the soaring price of oil, he said Thursday.

Brown, speaking at a news conference in London, said he would be attending a meeting of leading oil producers and consumers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he would 'help to broker a deal' on oil prices.

Brown said he was 'working closely' with the Saudi government to ease the supply pressures.

He said he would also visit Israel 'soon' to mark the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Jewish state.

No dates for the trips have been announced.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)