On farewell visit to India, Rice arrives in capital

New Delhi, Oct 4 (UNI) U S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived here this morning on a two-day visit to India, three days after the Congress passed the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal, ending the three-decade-old nuclear apartheid of New Delhi.

Though she has come just after ratification of the historical Indo-US nuclear pact by the Congress, the deal is unlikely to be signed during her visit.

Besides External Affairs Minister Pranab Kumar Mukherjee, Ms Rice will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and also Leader of the Opposition L K Advani.

She arrived here at 1030 hrs by special aircraft at the Palam Air Force Station.

Mr Mukherjee will host a luncheon in her honour at the Hyderbabad House in the afternoon. It will be followed by delegation-level talks at the Rajasthan Suite at 1530 hrs.

The US Secretray of State will call on Mr Advani at his residence at 1645 hrs.

Ms Rice will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his 7, Race Course residence at 1900 hrs.

She will depart from here by special aircraft at 0615 hrs tomorrow.

UNI NAZ RL NS1235