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| Bush urges Kenya power-sharing | Bush urges Kenya power-sharing |
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| US President George W Bush has backed calls for a power-sharing agreement to end weeks of strife in Kenya following disputed presidential elections. | US President George W Bush has backed calls for a power-sharing agreement to end weeks of strife in Kenya following disputed presidential elections. |
| He said he was sending his secretary of state to Kenya to convey the message. | He said he was sending his secretary of state to Kenya to convey the message. |
| Mr Bush was speaking in Benin, at the start of his first presidential tour of Africa since 2003. | Mr Bush was speaking in Benin, at the start of his first presidential tour of Africa since 2003. |
| He said he would highlight African success stories during his six-day, five-nation visit, even though he remained committed to ending turmoil. | He said he would highlight African success stories during his six-day, five-nation visit, even though he remained committed to ending turmoil. |
| Democratic reform, economic and military assistance, and the fight against HIV/Aids are expected to be raised. | Democratic reform, economic and military assistance, and the fight against HIV/Aids are expected to be raised. |
| The US president also wants to allay concerns about a new military command he wants to base in Africa to work with African militaries to deal with trafficking or terror. | The US president also wants to allay concerns about a new military command he wants to base in Africa to work with African militaries to deal with trafficking or terror. |
| 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 'Mercy and realism' on visit href="/1/hi/world/africa/7244896.stm">Bush tour: African voices class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7248287.stm">In pictures: Bush in Africa | |
| So far, Liberia is the only nation to have offered to host the US base. There are already some 1,700 US troops in Djibouti. | So far, Liberia is the only nation to have offered to host the US base. There are already some 1,700 US troops in Djibouti. |
| Speaking after talks with Benin's President Thomas Boni Yayi, Mr Bush said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was going to Kenya to help efforts to resolve the impasse - led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. | Speaking after talks with Benin's President Thomas Boni Yayi, Mr Bush said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was going to Kenya to help efforts to resolve the impasse - led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. |
| "The key is that the leaders hear from her first hand that the United States desires to see that there be no violence and that there be a power-sharing agreement that will help this nation resolve its difficulties," Mr Bush told reporters. | "The key is that the leaders hear from her first hand that the United States desires to see that there be no violence and that there be a power-sharing agreement that will help this nation resolve its difficulties," Mr Bush told reporters. |
| Kenya's rival political parties have agreed to set up an independent panel to review last year's disputed elections. | Kenya's rival political parties have agreed to set up an independent panel to review last year's disputed elections. |
| But a possible power-sharing agreement has not been reached. | But a possible power-sharing agreement has not been reached. |
| The opposition has accused President Mwai Kibaki of rigging the poll. | The opposition has accused President Mwai Kibaki of rigging the poll. |
| The dispute has led to protests, in which at least 1,000 people have died and 600,000 have fled their homes. | The dispute has led to protests, in which at least 1,000 people have died and 600,000 have fled their homes. |
| Malaria pledge | Malaria pledge |
| Speaking at a news conference with President Yayi, Mr Bush renewed his pledge to help Benin, with which the US plans to provide mosquito nets to every child under five, to help tackle malaria. | Speaking at a news conference with President Yayi, Mr Bush renewed his pledge to help Benin, with which the US plans to provide mosquito nets to every child under five, to help tackle malaria. |
| "I stand here by your side as a friend, a believer in your vision and a partner in your willingness to confront the disease and poverty that affect mankind," he said as he was receiving the Grand Cross of the Order of Benin earlier. | "I stand here by your side as a friend, a believer in your vision and a partner in your willingness to confront the disease and poverty that affect mankind," he said as he was receiving the Grand Cross of the Order of Benin earlier. |
| Hundreds of thousands of Kenyans have fled their homes | Hundreds of thousands of Kenyans have fled their homes |
| Mr Bush said he had skipped conflict areas to highlight success stories during his Africa trip. | Mr Bush said he had skipped conflict areas to highlight success stories during his Africa trip. |
| "When you herald success, it helps others realize what it possible," said the US president, who is now heading to Tanzania. | "When you herald success, it helps others realize what it possible," said the US president, who is now heading to Tanzania. |
| He called for urgent action over the "genocide" in Sudan's region of Darfur, where at least 200,000 people have died and two million been displaced in a five-year conflict. | He called for urgent action over the "genocide" in Sudan's region of Darfur, where at least 200,000 people have died and two million been displaced in a five-year conflict. |
| In a BBC interview prior to his tour, the US president defended his Darfur stance, saying he had not wanted to send US troops into another Muslim country. | In a BBC interview prior to his tour, the US president defended his Darfur stance, saying he had not wanted to send US troops into another Muslim country. |
| Compassionate | Compassionate |
| For a president whose foreign policy has been defined by Iraq this visit is an opportunity to show the more compassionate side of his legacy, says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan who is travelling with Mr Bush. | For a president whose foreign policy has been defined by Iraq this visit is an opportunity to show the more compassionate side of his legacy, says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan who is travelling with Mr Bush. |
| America has spent $15bn (£7.5bn) fighting Aids overseas since 2003, and Mr Bush has recently asked Congress to double that amount. | America has spent $15bn (£7.5bn) fighting Aids overseas since 2003, and Mr Bush has recently asked Congress to double that amount. |
| I've got a firm, heartfelt commitment to the continent of Africa President George W Bush Full interview transcriptBush interview: Your reaction | I've got a firm, heartfelt commitment to the continent of Africa President George W Bush Full interview transcriptBush interview: Your reaction |
| More than one million people in sub-Saharan Africa have life-saving anti-retroviral drugs thanks to the policy. | More than one million people in sub-Saharan Africa have life-saving anti-retroviral drugs thanks to the policy. |
| However the policy has been criticised by some for focusing on encouraging people not to have sex in order to stop the spread of Aids - unrealistic critics say. | However the policy has been criticised by some for focusing on encouraging people not to have sex in order to stop the spread of Aids - unrealistic critics say. |
| However, international aid agencies have said US trade policy in Africa may undermine struggling African economies. | However, international aid agencies have said US trade policy in Africa may undermine struggling African economies. |
| Benin relies on cotton production, for instance - but cannot compete with US cotton because of the large subsidies paid to US farmers. | Benin relies on cotton production, for instance - but cannot compete with US cotton because of the large subsidies paid to US farmers. |
| Analysts say Mr Bush may also be concerned with countering the influence of China - which has been doing billions of dollars worth of trade deals in Africa. | Analysts say Mr Bush may also be concerned with countering the influence of China - which has been doing billions of dollars worth of trade deals in Africa. |