US hopes to "do better"

US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, admitting the US has been more active in Europe than Africa, has said the lessons of Kosovo should help Washington "do better" in Africa. Addressing the annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) in New York on Tuesday, she said Africa was "being pulled in two ways". Noting the democratisation process underway in some countries, she also stressed the continuing wars that were ravaging the continent. "The world must come together with Africa, not to compete for influence but to cooperate for peace, development and law." She urged the international community to back "strong, democratic leaders in their fight against corruption". She also stressed the need to halt the "uncontrolled flow of guns and other weapons into Africa...which feed conflict and crime". Albright concluded by hoping for progress "against an even deadlier threat" to Africa, HIV/AIDS.