NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – Secretary of State Colin Powell turned from the tragedy of the killer tsunami in Asia to the hope of peace in Africa on Friday, ending a damage-inspection tour that left him saddened but impressed with recovery efforts.

Powell, in the final weeks of his tenure as America’s top diplomat, will attend a weekend signing ceremony aimed at ending two decades of conflict in southern Sudan. The accord ends Africa’s longest civil war without resolving the more recent killing and refugee crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Powell spent five days in Asia as President Bush’ emissary. He said he will report to Bush on Monday with recommendations for what the United States should do next.

“The international community has mobilized in a way that I have never seen before to help the affected people rebuild their homes, their schools, their businesses and above all rebuild their lives,” he said.

The United States is contributing $350 million along with military ships, planes and helicopters. Powell said U.S. military and relief workers will be in the region in large numbers for a long time.

Powell announced additional U.S. spending of $10 million for temporary housing in Sri Lanka, with another $10 million going to an economic recovery program. U.S. spending in the country so far is about $25 million and likely to grow, he said.

The money is all part of the $350 million pledge, which is essentially a line of credit that can be spent as U.S. relief officials identify particular needs.

Powell said the figure is sufficient for now but could be increased if the United Stats sees a need.

The United States stands fourth behind Australia, Japan and Germany in money pledged.

In Nairobi, Powell planned meetings with both sides in the north-south Sudanese conflict ahead of Sunday’s accord ceremony and will raise the Darfur crisis with them, the State Department said.

In Washington, State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said the United States hopes to use momentum from the north-south agreement to help end the Darfur crisis.

Ereli said the U.N. Security Council will meet on Tuesday to take up the Darfur issue.

“We are not neglecting this issue, we are not turning a blind eye to it,” Ereli said.

The conflict matches government-backed Arab militias and black African farmers. Powell has said the abuses committed in Darfur over the past two years qualify as genocide.

AP-ES-01-07-05 1638EST

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