The American Defence Secretary, William Cohen, is to make an eight-day visit to Africa to discuss regional security and military relations.

The Defence Department said his first stop will be Morocco, where he will meet King Mohamed on Friday.

The main part of the tour will be to South Africa, where Mr Cohen is expected to meet President Thabo Mbeki and government ministers.

On the return leg of the tour, Mr Cohen will go to Nigeria for a meeting with President Olusegun Obasanjo.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service