US News
U.S. first lady says first female president likely soon
By DPA
Jan 14, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - U.S. first lady Laura Bush believes the country's first female president is just a few elections away.

'I think it will happen probably in the next few terms of the presidency in the United States,' President George W. Bush's wife said in an interview with Cable News Network (CNN).

Bush said she would like to see U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice run for president, although she acknowledged that Rice 'says she definitely is not running'.

Her remarks Friday came the same day that Angela Merkel, Germany's first female chancellor, met President Bush for talks at the White House.

On Monday, Rice and the first lady are due to attend the inauguration of Africa's first female president, Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf, in Liberia. Mrs. Bush called Johnson-Sirleaf's election 'really thrilling.'