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Bush calls for fair Zimbabwe poll Bush calls for fair Zimbabwe poll
(about 2 hours later)
US President George W Bush has called for "free and fair" elections to be held in Zimbabwe.US President George W Bush has called for "free and fair" elections to be held in Zimbabwe.
Speaking on a visit to Tanzania, Mr Bush said the people of Zimbabwe deserved a government that recognized their "basic human rights". Speaking on a visit to Tanzania, Mr Bush said the people of Zimbabwe deserved a government that recognised their "basic human rights".
Earlier, Mr Bush signed a $698m deal with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikweteto to reduce poverty.Earlier, Mr Bush signed a $698m deal with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikweteto to reduce poverty.
Mr Bush is in the east African nation on the second leg of a six-day five-nation tour of the continent.Mr Bush is in the east African nation on the second leg of a six-day five-nation tour of the continent.
The deal will help improve roads, power and water supplies and comes as part of the Millennium Challenge compact, which makes grants to countries which stick to democratic principles and sound economic policies.The deal will help improve roads, power and water supplies and comes as part of the Millennium Challenge compact, which makes grants to countries which stick to democratic principles and sound economic policies.
Presidential poll African issues
President Bush said free and fair elections in Zimbabwe were in the interest of its people.President Bush said free and fair elections in Zimbabwe were in the interest of its people.
"It happens to be in the interest of the world as well," he said at a joint news conference with President Kikwete, who is the new head of the African Union."It happens to be in the interest of the world as well," he said at a joint news conference with President Kikwete, who is the new head of the African Union.
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 visitBush tour: African voicesIn pictures: Bush in Africa Zimbabwe is due to hold presidential and legislative elections at the end of March.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 visitBush tour: African voicesIn pictures: Bush in Africa Zimbabwe is due to hold presidential and legislative elections at the end of March.
Western countries say the last elections in 2002, which saw President Robert Mugabe returned to office, were not free and fair. Mr Mugabe is standing again for the ruling ZANU-PF party. Western countries say the last elections in 2002, which saw President Robert Mugabe returned to office, were not free and fair. Mr Mugabe is standing again for the ruling Zanu-PF party.
Kenya and the post-election violence were also expected to feature prominently on the second day of Mr Bush's Africa tour, which will also take him to Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia. The political stalemate and violence following Kenya's disputed election in December was also on the agenda during Mr Bush's visit to Tanzania.
Mr Bush has pressed Kenya to accept a power-sharing agreement following disputed elections. Mr Bush had thrown his weight behind a possible power-sharing deal between President Mwai Kibaki and his chief opponent, Raila Odinga, as a way out of the political impasse.
Tanzania has taken in refugees from the tribal violence which broke out in Kenya following the disputed presidential election result. He said his discussions with the Tanzanian leader had focused on "how best we can help the process. Not what we should do to dictate the process."
Mr Bush is sending his Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, to Nairobi on Monday to help the peace effort led by ex-UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Kenya's Foreign Minister, Moses Wetangula, speaking on Sunday, warned other countries not to try to force a deal on Kenya.
This is Mr Bush's second trip to Africa. Its main focus is on highlighting the success of projects to fight Aids and malaria. "We encourage our friends to support us and not to make any mistake of putting a gun to anybody's head and saying 'either or' because that cannot work," he told reporters.
As part of his health campaign, Mr Bush is due to visit a factory which makes anti-malaria mosquito nets and a hospital in the capital Dar es Salaam. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is due in Nairobi on Monday to help the peace effort led by ex-UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
After arriving in Dar es Salaam, the US president and First Lady Laura Bush were welcomed by thousands of people lining the road, which was decorated with banners saying "we cherish democracy" and "thank you for helping fight malaria and HIV".
Mr Bush said he had skipped conflict areas to highlight success stories during his trip to Africa, even though he remained committed to ending turmoil.
Military commandMilitary command
This is Mr Bush's second African trip, which will also take him Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia.
Its main focus is on highlighting the success of projects to fight Aids and malaria.
Mr Bush urged the US Congress to renew his global programme to combat Aids. He also wants it doubled from $15bn to $30bn.
"We don't want people guessing on the continent of Africa whether the generosity of the American people will continue," he said in Dar Es Salaam.
Mr Bush 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.Mr Bush 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.
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.
Mr Bush has 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 since 2003. Mr Bush has also 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 since 2003.
In a BBC interview prior to his tour, the US president defended his decision not to send soldiers to Darfur, saying he had not wanted to deploy US troops into another Muslim country.In a BBC interview prior to his tour, the US president defended his decision not to send soldiers to Darfur, saying he had not wanted to deploy US troops into another Muslim country.