Albright Heads To Africa

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright left for Africa Monday morning to visit the bombed-out U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and express the nation's grief for U.S. and African victims.

"I depart this morning for Kenya and Tanzania to deliver in person a message from our nation," Albright said before her departure for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

At least 257 people were killed and over 5,000 injured in simultaneous car-bomb attacks on the U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam on Aug. 7. The American death toll was 12, all killed in Nairobi.

"To America's embassy personnel in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, I will bring a message of solidarity in their sorrow, admiration for their courage, and support for their continued efforts on behalf of our country," she said.

"To the people of Kenya and Tanzania, I will bring a message of friendship, made deeper by our shared grief, and of support in doing all we can to ease their suffering and help them start anew."

She is to tour the bomb sites in both countries and visit many of the injured still in the hospital. She is also expected to announce details of U.S. assistance to both countries after the blast.

Although the bombs were targeted at the U.S. embassies, the overwhelming number of dead and injured were ordinary Kenyans and Tanzanians, and Washington has been accused of caring more for its 12 citizens who were killed.

Washington has denied the charge, but Albright's visit is seen by analysts in Africa as an attempt to counter the accusations.