Clinton will make landmark visit to Laos

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to become the first top US diplomat to visit Laos in 57 years, as part of an eight-nation tour that also takes her to Egypt and Israel, the State Department announced on Thursday.

"Clinton will travel to France, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Egypt and Israel departing Washington DC on July 5," said a statement from State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland released upon their departure.

Clinton was officially invited to Laos by counterpart Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in 2010 when he made the first visit by a top Laotian official to Washington since rebels swept to power and replaced the monarchy there in 1975.