He arrived in Tanzania on Saturday to a red-carpet welcome, and met Tanzania's President, Jakaya Kikwete, to discuss Africa's political crises before signing a nearly $US700 million ($771 million) grant to help stimulate economic growth.

Mr Bush hopes to use the trip to highlight success stories in Africa and the programs he has launched to fight disease, poverty and illiteracy. But he was immediately confronted with the latest crisis to challenge stability on the continent, and defended his record of resolving conflicts.

"We've been plenty active on these issues, and we'll continue to be active on these issues because they're important issues for US security and for our interests," Mr Bush said after landing in his first stop, Benin. He said he would send the Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, to Kenya today.

"The key is that the leaders hear from her first-hand that the US desires to see that there be no violence and that there be a power-sharing agreement that will help this nation resolve its difficulties," Mr Bush said. A senior Administration official later told reporters that it wanted to use the Rice visit to press the Kenyan President, Mwai Kibaki, to compromise with his opposition. The official expressed frustration that Mr Kibaki seemed to assume unqualified US support.

Kenya is the most urgent of several crises flaring in Africa. Others have overtaken Chad, Darfur, Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The United Nations Security Council devoted nine of its first 16 meetings this year to conflicts in Africa, even before its emergency meeting on Friday on Eritrea.

Mr Bush is also scheduled to visit Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia - countries chosen as models of promoting reforms, moving toward democracy and fighting AIDS and malaria. He defended his attention on the positive. "When you herald success, it helps others realise what is possible," he said.

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