Mel Gibson plans to aid Costa Rican Indians

Actor-director discusses donation with president of Central American nation

	Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias, left, speaks with Mel Gibson in his home in San Jose, Costa Rica, on Monday.
Kent Gilbert / AP

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updated 4:02 p.m. ET July 10, 2007

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - Mel Gibson has met with the president of Costa Rica to discuss making a financial donation to help the country’s native Indians.

“He wants to help the indigenous population here and wants to know how to channel the funds,” President Oscar Arias told reporters outside his home, where he met with the 51-year-old actor-director for about an hour Monday.

Arias said Gibson, who directed last year’s Mayan epic “Apocalypto,” was expected to return to Costa Rica next month to arrange details of his donation.

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Gibson has avoided the press in prior trips to Costa Rica, but spent a few minutes answering questions from reporters.

He acknowledged buying a house in Guanacaste on the Central American nation’s Pacific coast and jokingly asked reporters if they wanted the address.

Gibson starred in the “Lethal Weapons” movies. His directing credits also include 2004’s “The Passion of the Christ” and 1995’s “Braveheart.”