US, Russian diplomats seek to ease tensions

Egypt: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with her Russian counterpart on Saturday as they sought to ease escalating tensions in the waning weeks of the Bush administration.

In what may be one of her last such sessions with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as the chief US diplomat, Rice hosted Lavrov at her hotel in this Egyptian Red Sea resort for an 80-minute discussion that the State Department described as "good and productive." Despite the length of the private meeting, there was no sign either side had budged on its position on notably missile defense, arms control and Russia's war with Georgia.

Neither Rice nor Lavrov made any public comment after the meeting, which also covered efforts to deal with Iran and North Korea's nuclear programs.

Sunday, AP