A bomb threat at the Moscow hotel where US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was to stay has disrupted her arrival in the Russian capital.
The threat was reported at the Renaissance Hotel in the centre of Moscow.
Ms Rice was diverted to the residence of the US ambassador, while the rest of her entourage was taken to the US embassy.
Dr Rice, who is a fluent Russian speaker, will hold talks with President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov.
US officials have not provided details of the agenda, but Dr Rice told reporters before leaving Washington that she plans to continue putting pressure on Russia to pursue democratic reforms.
‘My message there will be that a democratic and vibrant and prosperous Russia is in everyone's interests,’ said Ms Rice.
She stressed that one of the US’s main difficulties in Europe is ‘to find a relationship with Russia that can bring Russia west so that Russia continues its progress toward a more democratic and open and free market society’.
