Kathmandu, June 9:

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has praised American climber Daniel Mazur for rescuing another climber Lincoln Hall on Mount Everest on May 26, the American Centre said in a release.

By giving up his own climb to the summit and coming to the aid of another climber, Mazur “displayed the best character of the American people and made your fellow citizens proud,” Rice was quoted.

Rice’s comments were made in a letter delivered today to Mazur by US Ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty at a reception in Kathmandu.