Clay Aiken Brought to Tears on Africa Trip  7/29/05

American Idol star Clay Aiken was brought to tears on a recent trip to Northern Uganda, when he visited camps for thousands of displaced children.

As part of his duties as a UNICEF ambassador, the singer met with youngsters escaping the African nation's insurgent rebel militia, and he was horrified by what he saw.

Aiken, who made the trip in May (05), says, "The rebels kidnap children to replenish their forces. Twelve-year-old girls are kidnapped and raped. I spoke to boys who were forced to kill family members.

"I cried for two hours over how catastrophic this was.

"There are 1.4 million people displaced. I asked people, 'Do you think it will end?' Way too many said, 'No.'"