Obama travels to Ghana, Italy, Russia

Nation & World News

Obama travels to Ghana, Italy, Russia

Photos of President Barack Obama's first visit to Russia.

On Saturday President Obama and his family toured the Cape Coast Castle in Cape Coast, Ghana. The 17th-century fortress was built by Swedes for timber and gold trading but gained infamy when it was used to house slaves awaiting transport to America.

Obama looks over cannons that protected the castle. It changed hands several times as countries invaded Ghana's central coast.

Obama addresses the crowds at Cape Coast. He is not descended from slaves; his father was Kenyan.

The Obamas unveiled a plaque that commemorates their visit. After the Cape Coast excursion, the family headed back to the U.S.

President Barack Obama continued his diplomatic trip abroad by spending some time in Accra, Ghana. Here, accompanied by Speaker of Parliament Joyce Bamford-Addo (left) Obama listens to the Star-Spangled Banner at Parliament's assembly.

Obama addresses the Ghanaian Parliament in Accra.

After his address to the Ghanaian Parliament, Obama greets audience members.

Obama does a pass and review of members of the Ghanaian military at the Presidential Palace in Accra.

A Ghanaian woman whose back is painted with "Welcome" waits for the arrival of Obama's convoy at the Presidential Palace in Ghana.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama visits the La General Hospital in Accra, Ghana.

Obama holds a baby at La General Hospital.

In his Rome address, Obama also criticized the culture of corruption in some African countries, saying that those who wanted to start a business or get a job there "still have to pay a bribe." While wealthy nations must help, he said, poorer countries "have an obligation" to reform themselves.

When Obama landed, people packed the streets near the airport hoping to see him. "It's a great moment for Ghana and Africa," said a bus driver, Emmanuel Tsawe, "We have to celebrate our own."

U.S. President Barack Obama, center, waves as he arrives with his staff for his final press conference at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, on Friday.

President Barack Obama, left, stands with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon before a moment of silence for earthquake victims at the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy, on Friday. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is at right.

President Barack Obama (third left) and the leaders of the Group of Eight nations (Taro Aso of Japan, Stephen Harper of Canada, Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, Dmitry Medvedev of Russia, Angela Merkel of Germany, Gordon Brown of Great Britain, Frederik Reinfeldt of Sweden and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso) gather for a group photo in L'Aquila, Italy, prior to the G8 summit.

As the Obamas wrap up the Russian leg of their trip and head for Italy, they board Air Force One for departure from Moscow.

Michelle Obama (center) and daughter Sasha (left) join Svetlana Medvedeva, wife of Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev, at Moscow's Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theater.

President Barack Obama listens to language translation during the Civil Society Leaders Forum in Moscow.

First lady Michelle Obama, right, talks to Tatyana Filippova, who supervises the St. Dimitry nurse training college in Moscow.

President Barack Obama visited Moscow for his first summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Here, Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are accompanied by Russian honor guard members as they lay a wreath at the Russian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Obama lays a wreath at the Russian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow.

Michelle Obama right, stands with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen as President Barack Obama, not pictured, lays a wreath at the Russian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow.

Obama returns to his car after the wreath laying ceremony.

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On Saturday President Obama and his family toured the Cape Coast Castle in Cape Coast, Ghana. The 17th-century fortress was built by Swedes for timber and gold trading but gained infamy when it was used to house slaves awaiting transport to America.

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