Annan heads to Africa for five-nation official visit later this month

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, heads to Africa later this month for official visits to five African countries, culminating at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, a UN spokesman announced today.

On his way back from Africa, the Secretary-General will stop from 5 to 6 September in Paris, where he will hold talks with His Excellency Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader, and His Excellency Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, according to spokesman Fred Eckhard.

The official trip to Africa will begin with the Secretary-General's arrival in Angola on 25 August. He will then head to Botswana on 27 August before travelling to Lesotho from 28 to 29 August.

He is scheduled next to visit Mozambique from 29 August to 1 September before attending the Summit from 1 to 4 September.

Mr. Annan, a native of Ghana, will spend two weeks there on vacation before the tour begins, Mr. Eckhard said.