President Barack Obama's spokesman has defended a decision to invite President Ali Bongo for a White House meeting on Thursday on the grounds that Gabon is an "important ally" of the United States, and holds the presidency of the United Nations Security Council this month.

At a White House briefing on Wednesday, spokesman Jay Carney was challenged on the invitation by a member of the White House press corps.

The exchange follows:

Question: And then in light of tomorrow's meeting with President of Gabon, is it appropriate for President Obama to honor Ali Bongo with a White House visit, given the fact that the State Department recently reported that the country is home to widespread government corruption, and in light of an ongoing criminal investigation in France about the source of money to buy President Bongo's homes in France?

CARNEY: Well, Jake, as you know, Gabon is holding the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council; it's an important position.

Moreover, Gabon has voted in ways that we consider very helpful on issues like Côte d'Ivoire, Libya, and Iran. It has been an important ally in our efforts in those countries through the United Nations. So, yes, we do think it is appropriate for the President to meet with the leader of Gabon.

And we are obviously, as we are in a number of countries, we're concerned about human rights issues. And President Bongo has made a number of reforms in his country, and that country of Gabon is increasingly playing a more important role as a regional and global leader on such issues as the ones I mentioned - Libya, Côte d'Ivoire, and Iran. So we're obviously - we think it's definitely a worthwhile meeting.

There a lot of people in that country who look at President Bongo as seriously corrupt, and he is going to be able to use this visit at the White House, with President Obama, as a way of building up his popular support.

Well, look, I think that the President of the United States is meeting with the President, as he does with other heads of state, who have less than sterling perhaps records because of the - first of all, the President of Gabon is making reform efforts, which we support. Secondly, as I said, Gabon has been an important partner in some of the issues that are very important to the American nation security, U.S. security interests regarding Côte d'Ivoire, Libya, and Iran and other issues. And it's very important for the President to have this meeting for that reason.