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cidentally happened to be as Obama wrapped up a weeklong tour of the continent. While the two U.S. leaders didn't say anything publicly, their wives engaged in a warm and chatty joint appearance at a summit on African women.
• Initially the two presidents weren't even planning to meet while in town, but first lady Michelle Obama joked as she sat next to her predecessor: "They're learning from us."
• The Obamas departed Africa for home shortly after crossing paths with the Bushes, who were hosting the summit promoting the role of African first ladies in bringing change to their countries. Bush ended up joining the current president for the wreath-laying ceremony honoring the Tanzanian victims of the simultaneous attacks at the U.S. embassies here and in Kenya masterminded by Osama bin Laden.
• The two presidents bowed their heads as a Marine placed the wreath of red, white and blue flowers in front of the large stone memorial on the grounds of the new U.S. Embassy. After a few moments, they shook hands with survivors of the attack and relatives of those killed before walking back into the embassy together in private discussion.
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• BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says both the U.S. and Russia are seriously committed to holding an international conference to set up a transitional government to end the Syrian crisis.
• Kerry says the two countries both believe the meeting should take sooner rather than later, but acknowledged it might not be possible until August or later.
• Kerry spoke outside the U.S. Embassy in Brunei after a 90-minute-plus meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of an Asian security summit.
• Russia has been a key backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad regime's in the two-year civil war that has claimed more than 93,000 lives.
• Kerry said the objectives of both countries remain the same -- to "save the state of Syria and to minimize destruction."
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