Bush, Annan talk about Africa
2005-06-10 12:12
Columbus - United States (US) President George W Bush and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan talked on Thursday about the crises in Darfur and Ethiopia, a White House spokesperson said.
Annan related details to Bush of his recent trip to Sudan and the troubled western Darfur region, said spokesperson Scott McClellan.
Bush told Annan the US supported the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) member countries in their efforts to help African Union (AU) forces deploy in Darfur, McClellan said.
Annan also "expressed his support for expanding the African Union security forces from — I think approximately 3 000 to 8 000, is what we're all committed to doing, or helping the African Union forces do", the spokesperson said.
Annan said those security forces were "having a positive impact on the ground".
"By expanding the forces, they will have even more of a positive impact in Darfur, and it will help encourage people to return back to their villages," Annan apparently told Bush.
Both Bush and Annan discussed the importance of keeping up pressure on Khartoum, as well as on rebels, "to sit down at the table in Abuja to resolve this in a peaceful way".
The two also discussed unrest in Ethiopia, where as many as 26 people have died and scores injured, after police on Wednesday opening fire on crowds in downtown Addis Ababa protesting the results of disputed May elections.
Bush and Annan both emphasised the need for government and opposition in Ethiopia to remain calm and to wait for final results from the election commission.