RICE HIT BY BOMB THREAT (MOTORCADE)
SKY NEWS ^ | 4/19/05
 

A bomb threat has diverted the motorcade of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The motorcade was travelling through Moscow when the hotel she was due to stay in received the bomb threat.
 

Ms Rice is on a two-day trip to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin.

One US official said: "There was a bomb threat called into the hotel. She has gone to the ambassador's residence."

Ms Rice, a former Soviet specialist, is expected to shore up a deal meant to stop anti-American militants from stealing Russian nuclear material.

She will also keep up the pressure on Russia over the need for democratic reforms.

Civil rights groups have accused Mr Putin of restricting democracy by abolishing the election of provincial governors and tightening the Kremlin's grip on the media.

"My message there will be that a democratic and vibrant and prosperous Russia is in everyone's interests," Ms Rice said.

She will also meet with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during her first visit to Moscow as chief US diplomat.

After Moscow, Ms Rice will travel to the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, where she will attend NATO's regular ministerial meetings.

The talks will likely include discussion of NATO's commitment to training security forces in Iraq, as well as NATO operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere.