(13 June 2011, BBC)- The US secretary of state has cut short a three-nation tour of Africa following a volcano eruption that has created an ash cloud over parts of East Africa.
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Hillary Clinton arrived in Addis Ababa on Monday |
Hillary Clinton, who arrived in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Monday, is now due to leave shortly.
US officials said the decision was taken because the cloud was due to move towards the city, shutting the airport.
The cloud, triggered by an eruption in Eritrea, has led to the cancellation of some flights to East Africa.
The German airline Lufthansa cancelled flights to both Eritrea and neighbouring Ethiopia.
Mrs Clinton had been due to leave for the US on Tuesday afternoon. But a senior US official told AFP news agency said she would be leaving later on Monday "because the ash cloud is moving towards Addis and it could cover the city".
Earlier on Monday, she addressed the 53-member African Union and met Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
She then cancelled a scheduled media briefing and held meetings with advisers to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir as well as Salva Kiir, president of the soon-to-be independent South.
The Dubbi volcano, in the Southern Red Sea Region, erupted on Sunday, sending plumes of ash 13km (eight miles) into the air.
It was its first eruption since 1861 and was preceded by a series of earthquakes.
The ash is expected to reach Saudi Arabia, Jordan and southern Israel, the Israel Meteorological Survey said.
Saudi Arabia and Jordan were likely be severely affected by the ash, it said.
Source: BBC
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