Rome (Italy), Mar. 20 : Vatican insiders have said the Holy See is struggling to contain international anger over Pope Benedict XVI''s claim on his first official visit to Africa that AIDS "cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems".

Yaounde  - Pope Benedict XVI was expected in Angola on Friday on the second leg of his week-long maiden trip as pontiff to the continent - which has been overshadowed by his controversial remarks about condoms.

Angola's minister for public administration and employment told public sector workers they could take the day off to mark the papal visit, the state Angop news agency reported.

Benedict was scheduled to meet with the country's president of 30 years, Eduardo dos Santos, on his arrival in the capital Luanda.

Yaounde - Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday held up the peaceful coexistence of Christians and Muslims in Cameroon as an example to the rest of Africa as he met leaders of Cameroon's Muslim minority.

Benedict, on the third day of his first trip to Africa as pontiff, said that genuine religion "rejects all forms of violence and totalitarianism" and praised Cameroon for avoiding the religious strife that has blighted neighbouring Nigeria.

Rome, Mar. 19 : The Vatican has moved quickly to calm feelings aroused by Pope Benedict XVI's comments on HIV and the use of condoms ahead of his visit to Cameroon and Angola,

The Pope said that the "scourge" of HIV could be made worse, not better, by the distribution of condoms.

France, Germany and Belgium criticized his message as irresponsible, while the UNAIDS agency said condoms were a vital part of the battle against HIV, which infects more than 7,000 people a day, reports The Guardian.

Paris  - The French government on Wednesday sharply criticized comments made by Pope Benedict XVI regarding the effectiveness of condoms in the fight against AIDS.

"Such statements are a danger to public health policies and the protection of human life," foreign affairs ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier told journalists in Paris. "The condom is an important element in the fight against the spread of AIDS."

Rome - Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday departed Rome for his first trip as pontiff to Africa, with stops scheduled in Cameroon and Angola.

Benedict, on board an Alitalia Boeing 777 jet, left Rome's Fiumicino airport just after 10.00 a. m. (0900GMT) and was scheduled to arrive in Yaounde's Nsimalen airport in Cameroon's capital, Yaounde, following a six-hour flight.

On Friday the pontiff plans to fly to Angola, from where he is scheduled to return to Rome on March 23.