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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in a rare public break with her boss, saw no problem with a Spanish-language version of the national anthem criticised by US President George W. Bush. Mr Bush last week added a new dimension to a debate over immigration by rejecting a Latino recording of Nuestro Himno (Our Anthem) and declaring the Star-Spangled Banner should be sung in English. But Dr Rice, one of the president's closest aides who has backed him down the line on every issue from Iraq to national security wiretaps, took a different tack on the anthem. "From my point...

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington tomorrow, his spokesman said in New York. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric did not say what issues would be discussed during the meeting between the UN chief and Ms Rice, who have met on several occasions here over the past week during the UN General Assembly session. Mr Annan will also use the day-long visit to deliver a keynote address at a forum on Africa held in conjunction with the annual legislative conference of the Congressional Black Caucus.

FOREIGN SECRETARY STRAW: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It has been a very great pleasure to welcome to London Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on her first official visit as the United States Secretary of State. And Condoleezza Rice has had a very good discussion this morning with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and we too have had a very good bilateral discussion. And both the Prime Minister and I opened by congratulating Secretary Rice on her appointment and her endorsement by the Senate. In those confirmation hearings before the United States Senate, Secretary Rice said, and I quote,...