US News
Rice had close personal and professional relationship with Straw
By DPA
May 6, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw after learning that he had been dismissed on Friday.

US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Rice and Straw developed a deep friendship in addition to their professional relationship.

\'She has had no better or closer colleague than Jack Straw in working through some of the most demanding foreign policy issues that have faced us over the past decade,\' McCormack said, adding that should would \'miss\' her British counterpart.

\'Then there\'s a second part, and that is their personal friendship ...,\' he said. \'So she looks forward to that friendship extending out over the years.\'

British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced on Friday that he was demoting Straw to leader of the House of Commons as part of a shakeup of his government.

Rice also spoke with Straw\'s replacement, Margaret Beckett, a former environment secretary who will become the first woman to serve as Britain\'s top diplomat.

Straw\'s departure comes as the United States works closely with Britain in confronting Iran over its nuclear activities.