WASHINGTON - US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg will travel to Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Albania and Bosnia on February 23-26, the State Department said on Tuesday.

Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon will accompany Steinberg to the three countries of the Caucasus. The department said in a statement that they will meet with leaders to discuss bilateral issues and regional security as well as engage civil society representatives and media in each country.

While in Albania and Bosnia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Tom Countryman will accompany the deputy secretary.

In Albania, they will "reinforce the importance of local elections to resolving Albania's political impasse" and reinforce the prosecutor general's role in investigating the events of January 21, the statement said.

Four people were shot dead on January 21 in anti-government demonstrations outside Prime Minister Sali Berisha's office. The prosecutor general issued six arrest warrants for those suspected of playing a role in the shootings, and two officers of Albania's republican guard have been arrested.

In Bosnia, the two senior U.S. envoys will meet with government and political leaders to urge rapid formation of a government " that can make progress on the European and Euro-Atlantic reform agenda," the statement said.