Confusion after Clinton cancels part of tour to tsunami-hit islands

CONFUSION surrounded Bill Clinton’s cancellation of part of his trip to the tsunami-hit Maldives last night, with some officials blaming bad weather and others exhaustion.

"He is disappointed. He wanted to go," said Erskine Bowles, Mr Clinton's former chief of staff and deputy to the ex-US President in his role as special UN envoy.

Mr Clinton had been slated to visit tsunami-devastated areas, speak to survivors and review recovery efforts.

Cherie Hart, regional communications officer for the UN Development Programme, said Mr Clinton was not sick, but "just plain pooped and he wants to slow his schedule down".

The former president had a heart bypass operation in September. In March, fluid and scar tissue were removed from his chest.

However, Brendan Varma, a UN spokesman in New York, said Mr Clinton cancelled the trip due to weather. "He is not exhausted," Mr Varma said. "He is doing fine and he is going to continue with his busy schedule of meetings."

Mr Bowles said Mr Clinton would visit the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh in the area hardest by the December 26 earthquake and tsunami today.

Mr Clinton had initially planned to fly to the Maldives' Fonadhoo Island, one of those hardest hit by the tsunami.

Mr Clinton is on a four-day trip to India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Indonesia to ensure that aid is being distributed fairly.

The December 26 earthquake and tsunami killed more than 176,000 people.

It had a devastating effect on the tiny Maldives. It spared only nine of the archipelago's 199 inhabited islands and destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of people. At least 82 people were killed, and 26 remain missing and presumed dead.