US pledges $15bn to fight Aids

The US, facing accusations of being tightfisted and of bullying developing countries in the fight against Aids, is defending its policies by citing a $15bn (€12.1bn) presidential initiative over five years to help millions of HIV sufferers worldwide.

A top US health official, speaking yesterday at the International Aids Conference in Thailand, was expected to extol Washington’s approach following criticism from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the French delegation and other sceptics.