Photo journal: Mali president

After saying: "You have to be crazy or stupid to want to be a president," he was asked why he wanted to return.

"I had not realised that you have to be wise to run a country but for wisdom, you have to listen to what wise people have to say.

"That's why I love going out to meet people" - such as Mali's oldest woman Assa Cisse who is reputed to be 128 years old.

But his critics say that all his well publicised visits are the start of his campaign to be re-elected in 2007.