Putin, Rice agree to tone down US-Russia rhetoric

MOSCOW, May 15 (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice agreed that the rhetoric in their bilateral ties should be toned down, local media quoted Russia's foreign minister as saying today.

''(Putin) supported the understanding by the American side that rhetoric in public exchanges should be toned down and we should focus on concrete issues,'' Itar-Tass news agency quoted Sergei Lavrov as saying after talks between Putin and Rice.

Reuters RJ DB1841