Bush to meet African leaders next week

US President George W. Bush will meet top leaders of several Western and Southern African nations on June 13, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Wednesday.

The African leaders Bush is to meet are Presidents Festus Mogaeof Botswana, John Kufour of Ghana, Armando Guebuza of Mozambique, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia and Mamadou Tandja of Niger.

The upcoming meeting will "highlight the value that the United States places on supporting democracy across Africa," McClellan noted.

Bush and the African leaders are expected to discuss trade, economic development, combating AIDS, an upcoming summit of wealthy democracies and regional conflicts in Africa, McClellan said.

Source: Xinhua