Bush is to support African leaders in stopping violence

President Bush says he is continuing to support African efforts to end violence and hunger in Southern Sudan. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, Mr. Bush and South African President Thabo Mbeki also discussed the need for political and economic reforms in Zimbabwe.

President Bush says America is continuing to provide logistical support for &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/mailbox/22/101/397/14823_mazen.html ' target=_blank>African Union troops trying to keep the peace in Southern Sudan. Mr. Bush says he is working with NATO to help position those peacekeepers so relief supplies can reach hundreds of thousands of refugees in &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/mailbox/22/101/397/14733_darfur.html ' target=_blank>Darfur.

Following talks in the Oval Office, South African President Mbeki says that is just the sort of help African leaders want. President Bush says the South African leader gave him a briefing on regional efforts to help end the political crisis in Zimbabwe, where Washington says April legislative elections were neither free nor fair, informs VOA News.

According to the Washington Times, Mr. Mbeki said he and the president discussed African debt relief, the end of agricultural subsidies in Europe and the United States, market access, infrastructure development and finding the necessary resources for strengthening the African Union peacekeeping forces.

"I must say that President Bush has responded extremely positively to all our suggestions," said Mr. Mbeki. "I am absolutely certain that President Bush is committed" to helping Africa on market access and ending agricultural subsidies, which inhibit the ability of African farmers to compete on a level playing field.