Rice to discuss Blair's role in Middle East

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to head to the Middle East in a fresh push for peace, hoping to build on momentum created by the appointment of Tony Blair as a special envoy for the region.

Rice is scheduled to visit Israel and the West Bank during the July 16-20 trip that will include a stop in Accra, Ghana, for talks on African trade, according to the State Department. Additional stops are possible, and a formal announcement of the travel is likely on Monday.