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Bush gets a big `KARIBU`
2008-02-17 10:07:33
By Peter Mwangu and Agencies
US President, George W. Bush jetted into Dar es Salaam yesterday to a colourful reception led by his host President Jakaya Kikwete, government officials and city residents.
The Presidential Airforce One plane carrying the US leader and the First Lady Laura Bush landed at the Julius Nyerere International Airport at 6.35 pm.
He disembarked from the mammoth aircraft ten minutes later after security clearance. The president and his wife descended from the plane to cheering and flag-waving Dar es Salaam residents led by President Kikwete.
He was welcomed by a marching band of soldiers in red tunics and traditional dancers and drummers wearing shirts and skirts decorated with his image.
He smiled broadly and bobbed his head to the drumming,and at one point embraced one traditional dancer.
At 6.43 pm President Bush accompanied by President Kikwete inspected a guard of honour mounted by Tanzania People`s Defense Forces (TPDF) and received a 21-gun salute punctuated by the national anthems of the two countries.
Tanzania is the centre-piece of the U.S.President\'s tour of the continent.
During his brief stop in Benin, Bush stepped up the pressure on Kenyan government and opposition leaders to end a post-election crisis that has killed around 1,000 people and left 300,000 homeless.
Rice`s mission was ``aimed at having a clear message that there be no violence and that there ought to be a power-sharing agreement,`` Bush told reporters after holding talks with Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi.
Thousands of cheering, waving people lined his road from the airport. Banners across the highway read ``We cherish democracy`` and ``Thank you for helping fight malaria and HIV.``
PRAISED PROJECTS
Bush`s tour will showcase his praised projects to combat the scourges of AIDS and malaria.
The presidents on his tour are viewed by Washington as a new generation of democratic African leaders and the United States is backing them with health and education support and also some military cooperation.
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