Bob Geldof, the organizer of Live 8 concerts, recently confessed that he thinks George Bush has helped Africa more than any other American president and defended Bush on the issue in France.

"They refuse to accept, because of their political ideology, that he has actually done more than any American president for Africa," he told Time magazine. "But it's empirically so."

Geldof is stressed because he hopes this concerts will remain a cultural event and will not become a political matter. "This G8 is in the UK, where the Prime Minister was once a young git with the worst haircut save mine," he said. "He attended Live Aid and was informed by it, so he's in tune with where we've come from."

"The most important and toughest nut is still President Bush," Bono told Time. "He feels he's already doubled and tripled aid to Africa, which he has. But he started from far too low a place.

"It's hard for him because of the expense of the war and the debts. But I have a hunch that he will step forward with something. And it'll take somebody like him."

The manager of the singer said: "Please remember, absolutely no ranting and raving about Bush or Blair and the Iraq war. We want to bring Bush in, not run him away."