Bono called for an end to 'The Forgotten War' last night, on receiving a special Humanitarian Award at the 2003 Meteors.

Having thanked everyone for making the award in recognition of his campaigning work for debt-relief and highlighting the AIDS pandemic in Africa, he took the opportunity to wonder why millions of people had not turned out onto the streets to draw attention to the victims of Africa's 'forgotten' war against AIDS.

Drawing a comparison with the recent mass protests against U.S. plans for possible war against Iraq, Bono said millions of poverty-stricken Africans would die over the next few years without vital medicine to help them combat the deadly virus.

'While I am inspired to see people out on the streets to defend the potential loss of life in Iraq, two million Africans will die next year and the year after because they cannot get hold of medicine,' he said.

'I want to know why there aren't a million people out on the streets for this other forgotten war.

Bono was commended in video recordings by former US President Bill Clinton and Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern, while ex-South African President Nelson Mandela applauded his 'tireless campaigning' in a message read out at the ceremony.

With the award came a donation of 100,000 Euros (£69,000), which will be shared between the development charities Concern and Goal.

More on the advocacy work of Bono for Africa here
www.datadata.org