SINGER Alicia Keys yesterday urged world leaders to show political will in addressing Africa's HIV-Aids scourge.

Keys was addressing journalists at Parkhurst, Johannesburg, about the work her organisation, Keep a Child Alive, was doing.

Dressed in a black sequined jacket, white blouse and black tights, the multiple Grammy winner called on President Jacob Zuma to continue to "right the wrongs of the previous regime" by addressing outstanding issues that continued to plague Africa and South Africa.

She said her organisation wanted African governments to focus on international adoptions, child-headed households, the empowerment of women and children as well as child abuse.

"What kind of desperation and depravity forces a man to rape a child who cannot speak up for herself? President Zuma, please make this go away," she pleaded.

Ever the activist, Keys also called on the G8 (eight wealthiest and industrialised nations) to continue its humanitarian mandate in Africa and other Third World nations.

"I ask the G8 not to freeze aid because we've had many successes because of it," she said. "We know that the West is going through an economic crisis, but Africa is going through a humanitarian crisis."

Keep a Child Alive has also partnered with footballers such as Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena, Salomon Kalou of Ivory Coast and England's Jermain Defoe in a campaign called Africa vs Aids.

The footballers will spread the message of safe sex during the World Cup.