Stronger governments key for Africa, Clinton says

ABUJA, Nigeria -- Former President Clinton urged African leaders yesterday to strengthen their governments so that they can address long-standing problems of hunger and disease.

Clinton spoke at a summit bringing African political and business leaders together with their US counterparts in search of partnerships to lift the world's poorest continent.

``We can't stop the spread of AIDS without building the capacity of government," Clinton said.

Presidents from more than a dozen African countries are in the Nigerian capital of Abuja with executives from companies including Chevron Corp., Coca-Cola Co., General Motors, and DaimlerChrysler AG at the seventh Leon Sullivan Summit. The meeting takes its name from a US civil rights campaigner who worked to get black Americans to share their wealth and experience with Africa.