Global debt cancellation was on the agenda when Bono dropped by on a meeting of African leaders at the weekend.

'The debt issue appealed to me because it wasn't throwing pennies at the problem,' Bono explained to delegates. 'It was looking at the structure of the problem.'

After several years work with the Jubilee 2000 Campaign and then the Drop The Debt successor, Bono underlined hs continued committment to campaigning for the cancellation of the debts of the world's poorest countries - convinced that it offers struggling countries a chance to succeed.

The weeklong trade summit brought dozens of African ministers - and some heads-of-state - to Philadelphia.

'We've got a struggle on our hands,' added Bono, 'Getting the money that the governments have agreed to, because there's complications with things like (the U.S.) Congress in America and a few other places, but we are gonna get it through. 'And even more than the hundred billion dollars that they have agreed to, I have a feeling that the next step is realizing that debt cancellation is only the door through to really dealing with the responsibility the developed countries have for the state of the developing nations"

He told delegates that in general he tried to keep his campaigning instincts in check during U2's live shows.

'I try to keep my rants to a minimum,' he said. 'I don't think they want a lecture when they go to a rock show.'

For latest information on the current North American campaign visit www.j2000usa.org