(16 Mar 2006) SHOTLIST
1. Mid shot US Vice President Dick Cheney, Speaker of US House of Representatives Dennis Hastert and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
2. UPSOUND: (english) Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives
"Members of the congress. It is my great privilege and I deem it a high honour and personal pleasure to present to you her excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia."
3. Wide shot of congressional applause
4. Various of Sirleaf accepting applause
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia
"Again we ask that we continue working together, but we do not ask for patronage."
6. Various of applause
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia
"Honourable members, I will succeed."
8. Various of applause
9. Wide of House
STORYLINE:
Liberia's new leader, the first woman elected president of an African country, urged American lawmakers on Wednesday to help her make Liberia "America's success story in Africa".
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's trip is aimed at strengthening historic ties and attracting American investment to her war-battered nation, officials said.
In her address to the House of Representatives, Sirleaf said she wanted the two countries to work together.
"Again we ask that we continue working together, but we do not ask for patronage," she said.
He speech was interrupted 11 times by standing ovations, the loudest of which came after she outlined her goals for the future.
She ended with a promise: "Honourable members, I will succeed."
The Speaker of the House, Republican Dennis Hastert, afterwards promised her the House would pass legislation on Thursday appropriating 50 (m) million US dollars "to help sustain peace and consolidate economic gains in Liberia."
Sirleaf is expected to meet US President George W. Bush on March 21, officials said.
The trip is her first to the United States since taking office in January.
Liberia was founded by freed American slaves in 1847.
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