TAIWAN’S president, Chen Shui-bian, will cut short the final leg of his African tour following a typhoon which killed at least 11 people at home. Chen told a news conference before leaving the West African nation of Burkina Faso for nearby Chad that his visit there would be limited to the signing of a joint communique. Burkina Faso’s president, Blaise Compaore, told the news conference that his country remained firmly behind Taiwan’s campaign to join the United Nations – a move bitterly opposed by China. ”We cannot tolerate a nation of 23 million citizens being excluded from the international community,” he said. Only 29 countries officially recognise the island. – Reuters
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