South African President Mbeki Criticizes UN AIDS Fund Grant

South African President Thabo Mbeki on Thursday accused the UN Global Fund for AIDS of flouting its own rules by funding AIDS programs without proper government approval. The $60 million grant from the fund was originally earmarked for AIDS patients in KwaZulu-Natal province, where government studies indicate more than one in three people are HIV-positive. But Mbeki said the funds would instead be disbursed by the national government rather than provincial authorities. AIDS activists have called for the resignation of South Africa's health minister for placing the grant in jeopardy. Mbeki said the national government was awaiting a report on AIDS mortality rates before dispensing the UN grant. The report would be finalized by year-end, he said, adding that tuberculosis remained the leading cause of death in South Africa.

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