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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Bush defends US record on Darfur | Bush defends US record on Darfur |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush has defended his decision not to send troops to the Sudanese region of Darfur, despite what he calls a genocide taking place there. | US President George W Bush has defended his decision not to send troops to the Sudanese region of Darfur, despite what he calls a genocide taking place there. |
| He called it a "seminal decision" not to intervene with force, taken partly out of the desire not to send US troops into another Muslim country. | He called it a "seminal decision" not to intervene with force, taken partly out of the desire not to send US troops into another Muslim country. |
| Mr Bush was speaking to BBC World News America before flying to Africa. | Mr Bush was speaking to BBC World News America before flying to Africa. |
| He also discussed controversy over China's Olympics - saying he would attend the event as scheduled. | He also discussed controversy over China's Olympics - saying he would attend the event as scheduled. |
| After Steven Spielberg withdrew his assistance to the Olympics in protest at China's policy towards Darfur, Mr Bush said he would not be taking a similar stance. | After Steven Spielberg withdrew his assistance to the Olympics in protest at China's policy towards Darfur, Mr Bush said he would not be taking a similar stance. |
| I've got a firm, heartfelt commitment to the continent of Africa President George W Bush Bush interview: Your reaction | |
| "I view the Olympics as a sporting event," he told the BBC's Matt Frei. | "I view the Olympics as a sporting event," he told the BBC's Matt Frei. |
| But he added that he would meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and "remind him that he can do more to relieve the suffering in Darfur". | But he added that he would meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and "remind him that he can do more to relieve the suffering in Darfur". |
| Promoting development | Promoting development |
| Mr Bush will leave on Friday for his second tour of Africa. He will visit Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia. | Mr Bush will leave on Friday for his second tour of Africa. He will visit Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia. |
| His first presidential visit was in 2003. | His first presidential visit was in 2003. |
| PRESIDENT BUSH'S ITINERARY Benin - Cotonou: arrival ceremony, meets president Tanzania - Dar-es-Salaam: meets president, tours hospital; Arusha: tours hospital, textile mill and girls' schoolRwanda - Kigali: meets president, visits genocide memorial Ghana - Accra: meets president, state dinner Liberia - Monrovia: meets president, visits university Rice to visit Kenya | PRESIDENT BUSH'S ITINERARY Benin - Cotonou: arrival ceremony, meets president Tanzania - Dar-es-Salaam: meets president, tours hospital; Arusha: tours hospital, textile mill and girls' schoolRwanda - Kigali: meets president, visits genocide memorial Ghana - Accra: meets president, state dinner Liberia - Monrovia: meets president, visits university Rice to visit Kenya |
| The president will be travelling with his wife, Laura - who has been to the continent five times. | The president will be travelling with his wife, Laura - who has been to the continent five times. |
| They will visit hospitals, schools and businesses, hoping to show how US investment in health and development programmes has made a real difference to Africans. | They will visit hospitals, schools and businesses, hoping to show how US investment in health and development programmes has made a real difference to Africans. |
| US aid to Africa has grown rapidly since Mr Bush entered the White House in 2001. He said on Thursday it had doubled over his first term and was set to double again by 2010. | US aid to Africa has grown rapidly since Mr Bush entered the White House in 2001. He said on Thursday it had doubled over his first term and was set to double again by 2010. |
| Mr Bush will not visit Kenya, where inter-ethnic violence erupted after recent disputed elections, or Sudan. | Mr Bush will not visit Kenya, where inter-ethnic violence erupted after recent disputed elections, or Sudan. |
| But his aides say he will discuss both crises with African leaders during his trip. | But his aides say he will discuss both crises with African leaders during his trip. |
| Matt Frei is the presenter of href="http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/169/worldhome.jsp">BBC World News America, airing at 0000 GMT (1900 ET / 1600 PT) every weekday. |