June 6, 2003	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1424

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NEW DELHI, June 5: Indian Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani leaves on Friday on a 10-day official tour to the United States and Britain, his office confirmed on Thursday.

India’s peace initiative with Pakistan and the global fight against terrorism are expected to dominate the agenda.

Advani’s visit abroad comes shortly after Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s official tour of Germany, Russia and France last week and met their leaders.

Officials told dpa that in his discussions, Advani would reinforce the need to pressure Pakistan to end “cross-border terrorism” in order to create a conducive atmosphere for peace talks.

In the US, Advani will meet senior officials like Vice President Dick Cheney, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Attorney General John Ashcroft and National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice for “a more structured dialogue on the Indo-US relationship”, officials told the United News of India news agency. He has been invited by Cheney and will also visit New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.—dpa