Sirleaf, summing up her five-day visit here before a luncheon gathering of several hundred, said an investment in Liberia by a foreign steel company could spark interest in the country by other transnational corporations.

The investment "sent a message that not only is Liberia back but is back in business," she said.

Sirleaf, Africa's first woman president, is trying to lead Liberia back to normalcy after decades of warfare and destruction.

"Many youngsters spent more time in war than in school," she said. When Sirleaf took over as Liberia's elected president a year ago, there was no running water or electricity, she said, adding that the problems are still a long way from resolution.

The biggest news of the Liberia Partner's Forum this week, hosted by the World Bank, was Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's announcement that that the United States was forgiving Liberia's U.S. debt of $391 million (€298.04 million) (€298.04 million ($391 million) ) (€298 million ($390.95 million) ($390.95 million (€298 million) ) ).

She said Friday that Britain and Germany forgave debts worth a combined total or more than $300 million (€228.68 million) (€228.68 million ($300.01 million) ) (€228.7 million ($300.03 million) ($300.03 million (€228.7 million) ) ).

The forum was not a pledging conference but rather a means by which donors could evaluate whether the post-conflict plan drawn up by Sirleaf's government was worth supporting. She said there as a "strong endorsement" of the plan "at every step."

Along the way this week, Sirleaf picked up promises of grant assistance from the United States, $200 million (€152.45 million) (€152.45 million ($200 million) ) (€152.5 million ($200.06 million) ($200.06 million (€152.5 million) ) ) over two years; the European Commission, $100 million (€76.23 million) (€76.23 million ($100.01 million) ) (€76.2 million ($99.97 million) ($99.97 million (€76.2 million) ) ); Ireland, $20 million (€15.25 million) (€15.25 million ($20.01 million) ) (€15.25 million ($20.01 million) ($20.01 million (€15.25 million) ) ), Britain, $19 million (€14.48 million) (€14.48 million ($19 million) ) (€14.48 million ($19 million) ($19 million (€14.48 million) ) ); and Sweden, $16 million (€12.2 million) (€12.2 million ($16.01 million) ) (€12.2 million ($16.01 million) ($16.01 million (€12.2 million) ) ).

Sirleaf said Liberia's foreign debt had not been serviced in two decades.

Almost $1 billion (€0.76 billion) (€0.76 billion ($1 billion) ) (€760 million ($997.04 million) ($997.04 million (€760 million) ) ) of the debt reportedly is owed to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The arrearage prevents Liberia from establishing normal lending relationships with the two institutions.

Two hours after Sirleaf spoke at the National Press Club, the State Department said in a travel warning that Americans visiting Liberia should take precautions.

"Crime rates are still high, and resources for responding to emergencies of any kind are minimal. Liberia's local and national police forces are in the process of being reconstituted and still lack adequate capacity to prevent or to investigate criminal activity," it said.

Sirleaf acknowledged in her remarks that peace in Liberia is still fragile more than three years after warlord and former President Charles Taylor was forced from office.

She noted that 13,000 U.N. peacekeepers remain in Liberia and that pressure for them to leave will increase as Liberia rebuilds its own security force.

Strengthening peace and security has been her highest priority since she took office, Sirleaf said. Other key areas have been revitalizing the economy, strengthening governance and rule of law and rehabilitating the basic infrastructure, she said.