Blair outlines vision for Africa

Tony Blair today put himself at the head of a global mission to rescue Africa from poverty and disease as he declared "the time for excuses is over".

The Prime Minister outlined his vision for the continent as he visited an Aids and education centre in Ethiopia.

His trip to see first hand the problems facing the country saw him chat to children and adults suffering from HIV and other diseases.

The hour-long visit to the Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organisation in Debre Zeit, outside Addis Ababa, came ahead of a major speech by Mr Blair on the future of Africa as a whole. He made clear that as Prime Minister he would put the issue at the top of the world's agenda when Britain takes over presidency of the G8 group of leading nations and the presidency of the EU next year.

His own Commission for Africa will form the basis for fresh efforts to work with Africans to tackle crippling debt, disease and poverty.

"Armed with the evidence from the Commission for Africa about what Africa needs, and what has held back progress in the past, I want to turn international attention on Africa into international action to support Africa," he said.

"Once we have that report, the time for excuses will be over. The world inside Africa and outside Africa will know not just what the problems are but also the solutions. The means finally to lift Africa out of poverty will be there for us to grasp."

Mr Blair's speech came as he chaired an international think tank on Africa's problems. Aid Agencies have voiced fears the Commission for Africa - Mr Blair's brainchild - will not take enough account of the views of ordinary Africans. Mr Blair tried to show that he wants to reach out to such people and learn how they believe the continent's problems can be resolved.

The speech, to fellow members of the Commission, was billed as the equivalent of his recent high-profile speech on world climate change.

Mr Blair was telling delegates the international community must not impose solutions on the continent but work with Africans to make their lives better. The Commission for Africa, set up this year to suggest ways of addressing issues such as poverty, conflict, debt and ill health, will report next spring.