WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush met Thursday with key East African allies to discuss continued cooperation in the war on terrorism, as well as economic and humanitarian issues.
Bush, in remarks prior to talks with Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, called the two men and their countries "people we can count on."
"We welcome two strong friends of America here, two leaders of countries which have joined us in the -- to fight the global war on terror, two steadfast allies, two people that the American people can count on when it comes to winning the first war of the 21st century.
"I'm so pleased that the president and the prime minister have agreed to come and have a substantive visit."
Moi, Kenya's second president since independence from Britain, and who is soon to leave office, said the most important issue to be discussed "is security for the whole of Africa and for my country."
Kenya last month was struck for the second time in recent years by terrorists. Sixteen people were killed Nov. 28 when suicide bombers attacked an Israeli-owned hotel north of Mombasa, on the Kenyan coast. In a simultaneous action, unknown attackers attempted to shoot down a chartered Israeli airliner, using shoulder-fired missiles, shortly after takeoff from Mombasa's airport.
In 1998, terrorists linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaida network blew up the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, as well as the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A total of 219 people died in the Nairobi blast and some 5,000 were injured.
"I want to reiterate what I have said before, and that is, our country mourns the loss of life in Kenya, the tragedy that befell your country as a result of killers trying to -- trying to terrorize freedom-loving people," Bush said Thursday.
The Ethiopian prime minister reiterated his country's stand with America against terrorism, noting "we believe that the war against terrorism is a war against people who have not caught up with the 21st century, who have values and ideas that are contrary to the values of the 21st century."
"In that context, it's a fight not between the United States and some groups) -- it's the fight between those who want to catch up with the 21st century and those who want to remain where they are."
