US Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has met her first world leaders in what is widely seen as a crash course on foreign policy.
She met the leaders of Afghanistan and Colombia as well as former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The Alaska governor has faced strong criticism that she lacks experience in foreign policy.
She only got a passport last year and had not met a foreign head of state.
Analysts say Republicans want to bolster Sarah Palin's foreign policy credentials ahead of a debate with her Democratic counterpart Joe Biden.
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Mrs Palin, the running mate to presidential candidate John McCain, held brief meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.
Mr Karzai and Mrs Palin discussed security problems in Afghanistan, including cross-border insurgencies.
Mr Karzai later said she had "asked the right questions on Afghanistan".
Mrs Palin then met Mr Uribe at the residence of Colombia's UN ambassador, discussing the fight against drugs and trade issues.
In her meeting with Henry Kissinger, Mrs Palin asked for insights on Georgia, Russia, China and Iran.
Correspondents say Mrs Palin is being prepared for a debate on 2 October with Mr Biden, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has broad knowledge of US foreign policy challenges.
On Wednesday, Mr McCain and Mrs Palin are expected to meet jointly with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.
Mrs Palin is then due to meet separately Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
An opinion poll released on Tuesday showed Democratic candidate Barack Obama holding slight leads in swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Colorado and Minnesota.
(BBC)
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