His Majesty King Abdullah II left Amman on Monday heading to Tanzania for a short working visit followed by a several-day visit to South Africa.

His Majesty is due to hold talks later today with Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa before heading to South Africa, where he will meet with South African President Thabo Mbeki.

Talks, during the visit, will focus on ways to bolster trade and economic relations as well as means to enhance bilateral relations between Jordan and the two African countries. The meetings will also cover ways to strengthen African-Arab cooperation in the face of challenges facing third world countries.

During his stay in Pretoria, King Abdullah will also meet with former South African President Nelson Mandela.

His Majesty is accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Ali, Prince Hamzah and Prince Hashem, the Chief of the Royal Hashemite Court Faisal Al-Fayez and Foreign Minister Farouk Qasrawi.

His Royal Highness Prince Faisal Ben Al Hussein was sworn in as Regent.