WASHINGTON, MARCH 28, SPA -- U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE WILL DEPART WEDNESDAY TO GERMANY, FRANCE, AND BRITAIN FOR TALKS ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR AGENDA AND OTHER ISSUES, A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAID MONDAY. RICE WILL MEET WITH OFFICIALS FROM THE THREE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES-KNOWN AS THE EU-3-AT A TIME WHEN TALKS AT THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL ON A STATEMENT CALLING ON IRAN TO EXPLAIN ITS NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN DEADLOCKED. 'SECRETARY RICE WILL BE TRAVELING TO THE U.K. (UNITED KINGDOM), FRANCE, AND GERMANY, LEAVING THIS WEDNESDAY AND RETURNING SUNDAY,' A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL TOLD AFP ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY. THE OFFICIAL SAID THE TALKS WOULD ADDRESS A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS, 'BUT I AM SURE IRAN WILL BE A MAJOR FEATURE OF IT.' RICE'S TRIP WAS ORIGINALLY ARRANGED AS A VISIT TO BRITAIN IN RETURN FOR A TRIP FOREIGN MINISTER JACK STRAW TOOK LAST OCTOBER TO RICE'S NATIVE ALABAMA. RICE IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT STRAW'S NORTHERN ENGLISH CONSTITUENCY, WHERE PROTESTS AGAINST THE IRAQ WAR ARE BEING ORGANIZED. THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT CONFIRMED LAST WEEK RICE WOULD MEET WITH CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL AND FOREIGN MINISTER FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER DURING HER STAY IN BERLIN ON THURSDAY. IT IS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHOM RICE WILL MEET IN FRANCE. --SPA 13 55 LOCAL TIME 10 55 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/349109