Tel Aviv  - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice landed in Israel Thursday for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders ahead of Sunday's meeting in Egypt of international sponsors of the current Middle East peace negotiations.

She is scheduled to meet the now Caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the afternoon and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, a US embassy spokesman said.

On Friday morning she is to hold talks with other Israeli officials in Jerusalem, before travelling to the nearby West Bank city of Ramallah where she is to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Washington - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised president-elect Barack Obama for his victory and said Wednesday the United States has taken an "extraordinary step" by electing the first African American to the White House.

"One of the great things about representing this country is that it continues to surprise. It continues to renew itself. It continues to beat all odds and expectations," Rice said in a brief appearance before reporters.

Washington - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heads to the Middle East next week for discussions on the peace process with Israeli and Palestinian officials, the State Department said Thursday.

Rice will travel to the region on Wednesday, one day after the US presidential election, for meetings in Israel, the West Bank, Jordan and Egypt during the five-day trip, spokesman Sean McCormack said.

Washington, Oct 23: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has reportedly described (her party) Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin as a “fantastic person”, but fell short to fully endorse her candidature for the second most powerful post in the country.

She also said that Hillary Clinton too was a terrific personality.

Washington - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has cancelled plans to travel to the United Arab Emirates and will stay in Washington to deal with the global financial crisis, the State Department said Tuesday.

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte will take her place at the fifth annual Forum for the Future on Saturday and Sunday in Abu Dhabi, spokesman Sean McCormack said.

The forum is designed to strengthen the partnerships of Middle Eastern and North African governments and to promote democratic reforms and human rights.

Washington, Oct 12 : US Secretary of State Codoleezza Rice has underlined the serious challenges, including terrorism and financial instability, facing the country could be a direct threat to the United States itself.

She said that the US was actively engaged in efforts to help Pakistan’s democratic government overcome economic challenges facing it.