US Secretary of State Rice makes brief visit to Bulgaria

Sofia - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Bulgaria from the Czech Republic Wednesday for a brief visit to discuss bilateral ties with the Balkan country's leadership, official sources said.

NATO member Bulgaria is one of the United States' closest allies in South-East Europe.

In 2006, Rice signed an agreement in Sofia to set up four US military bases in the country.

Rice was due to fly on to Georgia later Wednesday. (dpa)