You can be proud, Bush tells troops: Somalia 1993: President gets warm welcome from war victims and hails 'significantly new role' of Marines

GEORGE BUSH, on his last overseas trip as President, mingles with American troops in Somalia yesterday. At an orphanage caring for 720 malnourished children in Baidoa, he described their task as 'God's work . . . a wonderful, wonderful mission of mercy'. US officials have said the trip is a morale-boosting visit for the troops, and Mr Bush has urged the American forces 'to be very proud of this significantly new role'.

Mr Bush received a warm welcome from Somalis, most of whom regard the US Marines as their last hope of ending the spiral of violence that has destroyed the country. Everywhere he went, the US President was met by groups of children singing 'Welcome Mr Bush'. He refused to meet any of the warlords and said in a message to the Somali people: 'We cannot, and will not, impose political solutions on you. Instead, you must take charge of your own fate and come together to rebuild your country.'

US troops in Bale Dogle proudly showed Mr Bush scores of machine-guns, anti-aircraft weapons and 'technicals' captured from the various factions. But because the former president Siad Barre, ousted in January 1991, had built up a huge arsenal of modern arms, supplied by Moscow until 1977 and then by the US, Somalia is still awash with guns.

(Photograph omitted)