US'S Geithner heads for London, Mideast on Monday

By Glenn Somerville

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner kicks off a visit to Europe and the Middle East on Monday in London where he meets Finance Minister Alistair Darling for discussions on efforts to restore global growth.

Efforts to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions and to find a new way to deal with it in the wake of disputed presidential elections and a crackdown on protesters also are part of Geithner's agenda over four days that also take him to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as well as Paris.

Treasury officials said Geithner will discuss existing sanctions and "what we may be thinking about for the future" if the current policy of trying to engage Iranian leaders while making sure they meet international commitments fails.

Geithner holds a session with British financial sector representatives before meeting Darling and Prime Minister Gordon Brown for talks on coordinating efforts to revive banking activity, a bid additionally complicated for Britain since it has also to work with the European Union.

OIL NOT MAIN ISSUE

In Jeddah on Tuesday, Geithner is scheduled to meet Saudi leaders and deliver a speech at the Chamber of Commerce. Treasury officials said oil prices likely would come up but in the broader context of what the United States is doing to try to restore stability to its economy.

In both Jeddah and in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, not only economic issues but mutual efforts to curb money laundering and the flow of funds between terror groups will be on the agenda, Treasury officials said.

The U.S. officials said there was good cooperation on efforts at interdicting terror groups' ability to move money through the global banking system but the shifting nature of the threat meant they had to be ready to adjust tactics.