US ambassador to UN scales back criticism of Saudi Arabia

The US ambassador to the United Nations stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia's help in bringing peace to the Middle East on Monday, a day after he accused the kingdom of undermining US Efforts to stabilize Iraq.

Zalmay Khalilzad attempted to play down the critical remark he made Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition," telling reporters at UN headquarters in New York that Saudi Arabia was "a great ally" and friend of the United States. (AP)