The World : Carlucci Off to Mideast

Secretary of Defense Frank C. Carlucci left for a weeklong trip to the Middle East, where he is to meet with U.S. forces patrolling the Persian Gulf, a Pentagon spokesman said. Carlucci also planned to visit the gulf nations of Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia in his first trip to the region since he succeeded former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger in November. The Defense Department declined to elaborate on the purpose of the visit, but it comes at a time when the United States is increasing efforts to force an international arms embargo on Iran in an effort to end its seven-year-old war with Iraq.