BONO - THEROUX SLAMS BONO'S AFRICAN IDEAS

American travel writer PAUL THEROUX has slammed BONO's poverty awareness tactics - claiming the U2 star has no idea about what third world countries really need to tackle their problems.

Theroux, who has written extensively about Africa and penned the travel memoir DARK STAR SAFARI, is concerned Bono is doing more harm than good by "badgering people for money" when education is the real key to Africa's redemption.

He says, "There are probably more annoying things than being hectored about African development by a wealthy Irish rock star in a cowboy hat, but I can't think of one at the moment.

"I would not send private money to a charity, or foreign aid to a government, unless every dollar was accounted for - and this never happens.

"Dumping more money (on Africa) in the same old way is not only wasteful, but stupid and harmful; it is also ignoring some of the more obvious points.

"Bono not only believes that he has the solutions to Africa's ills, he is also shouting so loud that other people seem to trust his answers."