British Prime Minister Tony Blair has wrapped a four-nation tour of West Africa during which he called for cooperation between wealthy nations and impoverished Africa.

Visiting Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Senegal, Mr. Blair argued that engaging African countries can reduce the risk of them becoming "breeding grounds for the kind of people who carried out terrorist attacks in the United States".

Mr. Blair flew to London, Sunday, from Senegal, the last stop of his tour. Mr. Blair was the first British prime minister ever to visit Senegal.

On Saturday, Mr. Blair pledged reconstruction support to Sierra Leone as the West African nation rebuilds following ten years of civil war.

During a brief stop there, Mr. Blair said it is important that the international community work to rebuild Sierra Leone just as it helped end the country's civil war. Sierra Leone's brutal 10-year war with the rebel Revolutionary United Front formally ended last month following a U.N. administered disarmament program.

In Ghana, Mr. Blair called for a more balanced relationship between Africa and the developed world.

He was the first British prime minister to visit Ghana, a former British colony, in more than 40 years.

Mr. Blair's trip began Thursday in Nigeria.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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