US SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE CALLED BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW AFTER LEARNING THAT HE HAD BEEN DISMISSED ON FRIDAY, DPA REPORTED. 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 SHE WOULD "MISS" HER BRITISH COUNTERPART. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY THAT HE HAS ASSIGNED STRAW TO LEAD 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.
