Bono calls on US in AIDS fight

BONO has called on the United States to release billions of dollars to help combat the global AIDS pandemic.

The U2 lead singer told US politicians they should not spend "two months hanging around pulling Christmas crackers" while thousands of people died from the disease.

He praised Congress, which last week approved donating nearly $2.5 billion for the treatment of AIDS.

The money is part of a five-year package of nearly $15bn requested by US President George W Bush for the fight against the disease.

But the aid is part of a Congressional spending bill, which is not expected to be completed until January.

Bono said the cash was needed immediately and suggested the political process to approve aid was too slow.

"In two months 500,000 people will die," Bono said. "Two months hanging around pulling Christmas crackers this is not the year to do it. Don't play politics, there's too many people's lives at stake."

Bono called suggestions that African states would waste aid money "preposterous".

And he added: "Next year, there's going to have to be more money. It's a lot more expensive the longer you leave it."

Bono was speaking to CNN after it emerged he would be recognised for his humanitarian work at an awards dinner hosted by the family of civil rights leader, the Reverend Martin Luther King.

He will be honoured at the 2004 King Centre Salute to Greatness awards dinner on January 17 in Atlanta.

"We are fortunate this year to honour Bono for exemplifying many of the qualities that my husband, Martin, indicated were imperative to moving our society into the beloved community of which he so often spoke," said Coretta Scott King, King's widow and the founder of the King Centre.

Mrs King highlighted Bono's work on behalf of Third World debt relief and on focusing attention on the AIDS crisis in Africa.

"He has focused mass public attention on the world's poorest continent and lobbied politicians around the globe to take action," she said Last Saturday, Bono took part in a World Aids Day concert hosted by Nelson Mandela in Cape Town, South Africa.