Annan Due in Addis Tonight

Addis Ababa, December 5 (WIC) - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is due in Addis Ababa To-night on a three-day visit, according to a report by PANA yesterday.

During his stay, Annan will hold talks with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, and address a major international conference on development and HIV/AIDS in Africa, which opened Sunday in Addis Ababa.

Annan, who is visiting Ethiopia from an earlier working visit to West Africa, including Sierra Leone, will also meet with officials of the UN Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea, (UNMEE).

PANA quoted informed sources as saying that, The secretary-general's talks with Meles and other Ethiopian officials will centre on UNMEE. The human rights of tens of thousand of Ethiopians, which continue to be incarcerated in Eritrean jails and detention camps, would also be discussed.

Annan is scheduled to visit the UNMEE office in Addis Ababa Wednesday morning where he will be briefed on the progress of the mission.

The secretary-general will address Thursday the 2nd African Development forum, which has been deliberating on the theme- "AIDS: The Greatest Leadership Challenge."

The gathering will be highlighting on the final day of its deliberations a special forum of African leaders to be kicked off by Annan.

According to PANA Annan is scheduled to leave Addis Ababa for Asmara Friday for talks with Eritrean President Issaias Afworki.