US President George W. Bush on Saturday arrived in Dar es Salaam for a state visit to Tanzania for a state visit.

The Air Force One landed in the Dar es Salaam International Airport shortly before 16:00 GMT.

Also arrived were First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and his wife were at the airport to welcome the American visitors.

The US president arrived in Dar es Salaam from a stopover in Benin where he started his five-nation Africa tour on Friday.

Bush is scheduled to visit two hospitals, one mosquito net factory, one pastoralist training center and a coffee plantation farm during his stay in the country, which lasts till Tuesday next week.

It was President Bush's first visit to Tanzania and the first state visit to this African country by any sitting US president.

Bill Clinton paid a working visit to Tanzania in 2000.

(Xinhua News Ageny February 17, 2008)