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Obama Cancels Congo Trip At U.S. Embassy's Request

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Aug 22, 2006 5:34 pm US/Central

Obama Cancels Congo Trip At U.S. Embassy's Request

Violence Following Historic Elections Blamed

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) ― U.S. Sen. Barack H. Obama Jr. (D-Ill.) has canceled a planned visit to Congo because of fighting between rival army factions.

An Obama spokesman says the fighting following historic elections in Congo has tied up U.S. Embassy personnel and assets.

Obama -- the son of a Kenyan economist -- is on an Africa tour that was to include a trip Thursday to Congo. The trip was intended to highlight the elections and the role of peacekeeping.

The fighting has been restricted to the capital in the west of the country.

But the spokesman says there has been a request from the U.S. Embassy to suspend the visit because of the violence has tied down embassy personnel and assets.

Obama leaves South Africa tomorrow for Rwanda and will fly on directly to Kenya. One highlight of the trip to Kenya will be a visit to his father's village.

(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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