US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit eight European countries as well as Israel and the West Bank in early February, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Thursday.

Between Feb. 3 and Feb. 10, Rice would begin a trip to Britain, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Israel, the West Bank, Italy, France, Belgium and Luxembourg in roughly that order, Boucher told reporters.

Rice, sworn in as US secretary of state Wednesday after the Senate approved her nomination, will have talks with leaders in each country on a range of issues and lay the groundwork for US President George W. Bush's tour of Europe from February 22 to 25.

"During the course of her visit, she intends to promote President Bush's vision of democracy and freedom as the keys to peace and prosperity," Boucher said.

Bush has expressed hope for mending US alliances bruised by the Iraq war. Rice and her designated deputy Robert Zoellick hoped to visit all 26 NATO countries by the spring, Boucher said.

The topics Rice will discuss include the fight against terrorism, cooperation on the Middle East peace process, nuclear non-proliferation and the development of European institutions, the spokesman said.

Bush will visit Brussels, the headquarters of NATO and the European Union, and Germany and Slovakia for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin next month.