Washington, March 5, SPA -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with South African Foreign Minister Noksazana Dlamini-Zuma yesterday to discuss bilateral, regional, and international issues, including the upcoming elections in Zimbabwe, the State Department announced. Spokesman Richard Boucher said Rice and Zuma "had a very good, very friendly discussion ... [during which they] talked to each other comfortably and freely about a number of issues." Rice and Zuma also discussed South African efforts to support and monitor the upcoming March 31 elections in Zimbabwe, Boucher said. "The secretary and foreign minister talked about that, talked about the need for those elections to be open and free and fair, and for hopefully [South African] monitors to contribute to that process," Boucher added.--SPA1255 Local Time 0955 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/244271