Saudi Arabia has told the Bush administration that it might provide financial backing to Iraqi Sunnis in any war against Iraq's Shiites if the United States pulls its troops out of Iraq, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia conveyed the message to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney two weeks ago during Cheney's whirlwind visit to the Saudi capital of Riyadh, unidentified senior officials were quoted as saying.

During the visit, King Abdullah also expressed strong opposition to diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran, and pushed for Washington to encourage the resumption of talks between Israel and the Palestinians, the officials said.

The Saudi warning reflects America's Sunni Arab allies' fears of Iran's rising influence in Iraq, coupled with Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

King Abdullah II of Jordan has also expressed concern about rising Shiite influence, and about the prospect that Iraq's Shiite-dominated government would use troops against the Sunni population.

Source: Xinhua