Laura Bush to visit Africa in July

WASHINGTON - US First Lady Laura Bush will travel to Africa following the Group of Eight (G8) summit in Scotland next month, White House spokesman Scott McClellan announced Tuesday.
"This trip is an opportunity for Mrs Bush to talk about the importance of education, to highlight the progress being made on the president`s HIV/AIDS initiative and to discuss women`s rights," he told reporters.
The details and itinerary of the trip were not yet set, according to McClellan.
Bush will open her trip after the leaders of the world`s seven richest nations -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- as well as Russia meet for talks in Gleneagles, Scotland July 6-8.
US President George W. Bush visited Botswana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda in July 2003.

06/21/2005 16:44 GMT