September 28, 2007

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel to Visit Ethiopia

Merkel to visit Ethiopia, South Africa and Liberia

BERLIN (AFP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit Ethiopia, South Africa and Liberia early next month on her first tour of Africa, government spokesman Thomas Steg said.

She will go to Ethiopia on October 3 and then fly to South Africa the next day for a four-day visit, before travelling to Liberia for one day.

"The chancellor will hold political discussions but will also visit a number of aid projects," Steg said.

In South Africa she will hold talks with President Thabo Mbeki as well as his predecessor, Nobel Peace laureate Nelson Mandela, and opposition leader Helen Zille, the South African foreign ministry said.

Merkel will also visit an AIDS project and discuss the country's preparations to host the 2010 football World Cup.

She will be accompanied by a big German business delegation.

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