Rice Heading Home After Russia, Asia Visit

More than 100,000 people attended a rally in Pyongyang on October 20 to celebrate North Korea's nuclear test (epa) October 22, 2006 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is due to return to Washington following a visit to Russia and Asian capitals.

Rice met in Moscow on October 21 with President Vladimir Putin, and Russian officials said they exchanged views on the North Korean nuclear issue and nonproliferation.


Rice told reporters on the flight to Russia from China that Beijing's special envoy, who visited North Korea earlier this week, said nothing to her about a reported North Korean pledge not to conduct any more nuclear tests.


North Korea's October 9 announcement that it had tested a nuclear bomb sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity. The UN Security Council approved sanctions against North Korea on October 14.


Rice also called on Russia and Georgia to do all they can to reduce tensions between them.


Before Russia, Rice visited Japan, South Korea, and China.


(compiled from agency reports)

Russian Sanctions On Georgia

Russian Sanctions On Georgia

Georgian deportees arriving in Tbilisi on October 6 (epa)


RUSSIA DEPORTING GEORGIANS. Despite Georgia's release of four military officers accused of spying on October 2, Russia has continued its transport and postal blockade of Georgia, and has also deported hundreds of Georgians.... (more)


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MORE: Coverage of the situation in Georgian from RFE/RL's Georgian Service and in Russian from RFE/RL's Russian Service.


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