His Majesty King Abdullah and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday reviewed bilateral relations and the latest regional developments over a telephone call.

Meanwhile, the King has said that the continued Palestinian-Israeli conflict poses a serious problem whose solution largely depends on US support.

He stressed that the coming stage is crucial in the history of the Palestinian issue.

In an interview with Der Spiegel, conducted ahead of His Majesty's latest visit to Germany and published today in its weekly issue, the King noted that 2008 is the election year in the US and any new president will need a long time to deal effectively with the issue.

At the local level, the King stressed the importance of strengthening the middle class through socio-economic reforms that would enable society to face up to current challenges, especially those brought about by rising oil prices.

The King said that the success of the democratic experience hinges on a solid middle class as this would prevent a group of people from manipulating democracy to serve their own interests and goals.

On Jordan's plan to start a nuclear programme, the King said soaring oil prices stand as major economic obstacle and the Kingdom has to move quickly and with transparency regarding its plans to launch a nuclear energy programme for peaceful purposes, in coordination with concerned international institutions.