News Brief05:41 AM

(IsraelNN.com) The United States has denied a Palestinian Authority (PA) report on Monday that American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit the region next week. "There is no such plan," said American State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. "She will be in Africa with the president next week, starting on Friday afternoon, and they are getting back on Wednesday night." However, other officials added that she probably will visit the Middle East in March.

PA negotiator Ahmed Qureia had told reporters Sunday that Secretary Rice would arrive for a one-day visit next week to advance negotiations between the PA and Israel for a new Arab state within Israel's current borders, and the French news Agency AFP had reported she would arrive next Monday.