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| Rice holds Russia rights meetings | Rice holds Russia rights meetings |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is meeting human rights activists in Moscow as she continues a Russian visit that has so far been coolly received. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is meeting human rights activists in Moscow as she continues a Russian visit that has so far been coolly received. |
| Ms Rice has said she will discuss democracy in meetings that may add to growing tensions with the Kremlin. | Ms Rice has said she will discuss democracy in meetings that may add to growing tensions with the Kremlin. |
| The US has accused President Vladimir Putin of rolling back democracy and trampling rights, charges he denies. | The US has accused President Vladimir Putin of rolling back democracy and trampling rights, charges he denies. |
| On Friday talks about US plans to base a missile shield in Eastern Europe ended acrimoniously. | On Friday talks about US plans to base a missile shield in Eastern Europe ended acrimoniously. |
| Following the tense meetings with Mr Putin and his defence and foreign ministers, Ms Rice and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates will pursue their own schedules on Saturday. | Following the tense meetings with Mr Putin and his defence and foreign ministers, Ms Rice and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates will pursue their own schedules on Saturday. |
| Ms Rice plans to talk about democracy with representatives of Russian non-governmental organisations, while Mr Gates will address military students at the Academy of Russia's General Staff. | Ms Rice plans to talk about democracy with representatives of Russian non-governmental organisations, while Mr Gates will address military students at the Academy of Russia's General Staff. |
| One of those due to meet Ms Rice, Svetlana Gannushkina of the Moscow-based organisation Civil Assistance, said ahead of the meeting that she thought the human rights situation in Russia was deteriorating. | |
| "It has become harder to communicate our concerns because of restrictions on freedom of speech. The situation in North Caucasus remains a worry and so is the position of NGOs," Ms Gannushkina said. | |
| Wary Kremlin | |
| The secretary of state will have dinner later with her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, while the defence secretary will meet Viktor Zubkov, the prime minister. | The secretary of state will have dinner later with her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, while the defence secretary will meet Viktor Zubkov, the prime minister. |
| It gets really bad, when [NGOs] start to be used by some states against other states as a tool in pursuit of their foreign policy aims President Vladimir Putin | It gets really bad, when [NGOs] start to be used by some states against other states as a tool in pursuit of their foreign policy aims President Vladimir Putin |
| Their trip comes as Russia prepares for parliamentary and presidential elections over the next five months, notes the BBC's Moscow correspondent Richard Galpin. | Their trip comes as Russia prepares for parliamentary and presidential elections over the next five months, notes the BBC's Moscow correspondent Richard Galpin. |
| Mr Putin must step down in March after two terms in office. | Mr Putin must step down in March after two terms in office. |
| But he has already hinted he may become prime minister and return as president in 2012, as the constitution allows. | But he has already hinted he may become prime minister and return as president in 2012, as the constitution allows. |
| Analysts say Ms Rice's visit to Russian non-governmental organisations could make the Kremlin wary. | Analysts say Ms Rice's visit to Russian non-governmental organisations could make the Kremlin wary. |
| The Russian Itar-Tass news agency said Mr Putin this week sounded a note of caution about NGOs in comments to visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy. | The Russian Itar-Tass news agency said Mr Putin this week sounded a note of caution about NGOs in comments to visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy. |
| How US missile shield works Q&A: US missile defences | How US missile shield works Q&A: US missile defences |
| "It gets really bad, when such organisations start to be used by some states against other states as a tool in pursuit of their foreign policy aims," the agency quoted Mr Putin as saying. | "It gets really bad, when such organisations start to be used by some states against other states as a tool in pursuit of their foreign policy aims," the agency quoted Mr Putin as saying. |
| Russia is furious at US plans to base an anti-missile system in its geographical backyard, in Poland and the Czech Republic. | Russia is furious at US plans to base an anti-missile system in its geographical backyard, in Poland and the Czech Republic. |
| But the White House team rejected Russian appeals at Friday's meetings in Moscow to halt the scheme. | But the White House team rejected Russian appeals at Friday's meetings in Moscow to halt the scheme. |
| Mr Putin was not convinced by US assurances that the system would be to counteract "rogue" states such as North Korea and Iran. | Mr Putin was not convinced by US assurances that the system would be to counteract "rogue" states such as North Korea and Iran. |
| He threatened to abandon a key nuclear missile reduction treaty if Washington forged ahead with the plans. | He threatened to abandon a key nuclear missile reduction treaty if Washington forged ahead with the plans. |