Annan visits Niger to raise focus on food crisis

Dalatou Mamane, Zinder

Mr Annan is making the two-day trip to focus attention on the combined effects of a devastating drought and locust invasion that have struck a swath of north-west Africa and left more than five million people facing severe shortages.

Mr Annan was welcomed at Zinder airport by President Mamadou Tandja, who has played down the crisis and accused the UN, aid groups and opposition parties of exaggerating his country's problems for political and economic gain.