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SV President Bongo greeting Nathaniel Davis
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SV Davis and Bongo seated and talking (5 shots)
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Background: The United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Nathaniel Davis, arrived in the Gabonese capital, Libreville, on Wednesday (14 May) for a two-day visit.

He was greeted at the airport by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Martin Rekangalt, and later had talks with Gabon's leader, President Omar Bongo.

Mr. Davis has been on a familiarisation and fact-finding tour of West Africa to establish contacts in his new sphere of diplomatic operation.

His nomination to the U.S. Congress in February for the African post created a howl of protest before his appointment was confirmed in April.

Meeting in Addis Ababa in February the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) formally protested about Mr. Davis's nomination. Mr. Davis has been posted in Chile at the time of the overthrow of President Salvadore Allende and it was claimed that he was involved with the allegedly CIA-backed military coup.

Before arriving in Libreville, Mr. Davis had previously visited Ghana, and the Ivory Coast.