WASHINGTON, August 4, 2008 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a statement Monday paid tribute to Russia's late Alexander Solzhenitsyn as 'great writer and a moral witness.'

'We are saddened by the death of Russian writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and express our condolences to his surviving wife and sons,' Rice said.

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran Tuesday not to delay a decision on an international offer of incentives if it halts sensitive nuclear work, ahead of a Saturday deadline.

AUCKLAND, July 25, 2008 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived late Friday in Auckland, a day ahead of talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

PERTH, July 25, 2008 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Friday shrugged off a reward for her arrest as a war criminal announced by university students ahead of a visit to New Zealand.

WELLINGTON, July 25, 2008 (AFP) - New Zealand university students offered a reward Friday for anyone making a citizens' arrest of visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as an alleged war criminal.

Rice was due to arrive in Auckland late Friday ahead of talks on Saturday with Prime Minister Helen Clark and Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

PERTH, July 25, 2008 (AFP) - Condoleezza Rice on Friday ruled out running for office when her time ends as US Secretary of State, saying she was looking forward to shopping, music and the academic life.

Rice gave insight into her future plans while addressing a girl's school in Australia, during an informal visit at the invitation of Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.

PERTH, July 24, 2008 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Perth Thursday for an informal visit that will emphasise the close security ties between the United States and Australia.

Rice travelled to the West Australian state capital with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, a Perth native who invited her to visit the city in January.

SINGAPORE, July 22, 2008 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived Tuesday in Singapore, where she will attend a six-party meeting on North Korea's nuclear programmes on the sidelines of a regional security forum.

ABU DHABI, July 22, 2008 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday after briefing Arab allies on the nuclear standoff with Iran and warning Tehran of 'punitive measures' if it spurns an international incentive to freeze sensitive nuclear work.

SHANNON, July 21, 2008 (AFP) - Iran has two weeks to respond seriously to an international offer to halt its sensitive nuclear work or face further 'punitive measures,' US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned.