President Bush to visit Liberia

The White House announced Friday that United States President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush will visit five countries in a one-week tour of Africa next month. The trip between February 15 and 21 will include stops in Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia. The White House said Bush will meet the presidents of these countries "to discuss how the United States can continue to partner with African countries to support continued democratic reform, respect for human rights, free trade, open investment regimes, and economic opportunity across the continent." It also said the trip will be an opportunity for President Bush to "review firsthand the significant progress" made in the fight against HIV/Aids and malaria. The United States has spent billions on programs fighting HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases. Bush has called on Congress to double funding for President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) to U.S.$30 billion. Pepfar focuses primarily on Africa. According to government statistics, the program has helped more than one million people get antiretroviral treatment. Bush last visited Africa in 2003. allafrica.com