Clinton resists debt plea

New partners: Bill Clinton and Olusegun Obasanjo

US President Bill Clinton has declined to offer Nigeria any easing of its massive foreign debts, ignoring an appeal by the country's leader, Olusegun Obasanjo, who described the debt burden as a gushing wound.

President Obasanjo had told 1,800 guests at a dinner for Mr Clinton that the West had a moral responsibility to ease Nigeria's debts, which stand at almost $30bn.

Mr Obasanjo said the burden was so great, it was preventing economic development.

I am here because your fight, your fight for democracy and human rights, for equity and economic growth, for peace and tolerance, your fight is America's fight and the world's fight

Bill Clinton

"I make a special appeal to you also to appropriate funds for debt cancellation for Nigeria," Mr Obasanjo told Mr Clinton at Nigeria's National Assembly.

He declined the invitation but did offer millions of dollars to support education and to fight Aids.

The American president continues his Nigerian visit on Sunday with sightseeing and meetings to discuss local issues.

On Monday Mr Clinton goes to Tanzania, where the former South African president Nelson Mandela has been mediating to try to bring about a peace deal for Burundi.

A spokeswoman for Mr Clinton said his visit will go ahead despite reports that the signing of the deal is still not certain.

Mr Clinton has been full of praise for Nigeria's transition from military dictatorship to constitutional democracy.

Two years ago, on his previous visit to Africa, Mr Clinton had snubbed Nigeria in a deliberate rebuff to its then leader, General Sani Abacha.

But the country had changed from being a pariah into being a partner, he said, and his presence was a symbol of its transformation.

Peacekeeping pledge

He said: "I am here because your fight, your fight for democracy and human rights, for equity and economic growth, for peace and tolerance, your fight is America's fight and the world's fight."

Chelsea Clinton joined her father at the dinner

He promised additional US aid for Nigeria's peacekeeping efforts with a pledge to train and equip five battalions of soldiers.

But Mr Clinton also promised to intercede with the Paris Club of creditor nations to reschedule some of Nigeria's debt.

He said: "Nigeria shouldn't have to choose between paying interest on debt and meeting basic human needs, especially in education and health."

Corruption battle

Mr Clinton said Nigeria "is a place of untapped opportunity because it is a place of unlimited potential," but noted that one barrier to realising that potential, which has long scared investors away, is a record of corruption, international crime, fraud and drug trafficking.

He said US law enforcement agencies were working to combat these scourges, and that "as we do these things, we will be able to say loud and clear to investors all over the world, 'Come to Nigeria'."

Mr Clinton hopes to get a better idea of the problems confronted by ordinary Nigerians during Sunday.

In a later part of his African tour, Mr Clinton will fly to Egypt, where he will meet President Hosni Mubarak to discuss the Middle East peace process.