Rice tells Russia not to use energy as weapon

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice lambasted Moscow on Monday for using its oil and gas wealth as a "Political weapon" And said democratic reforms would strengthen Russia's ties with Washington.

In a speech on the state of US-Russia relations, Rice conceded there was a "certain distance" between Washington and Moscow, but she rejected suggestions there had been a return to the frosty ties of the Cold War era. (Reuters)