Business Services Industry

Western Asset Closed-End Funds Add New Board Member

Business Wire, March 2, 2007

NEW YORK -- Western Asset 2008 Worldwide Dollar Government Term Trust Inc. (NYSE: SBG), Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc. (NYSE: ESD), Western Asset Emerging Markets Floating Rate Fund Inc. (NYSE: EFL), Western Asset Emerging Markets Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: EMD), Western Asset Emerging Markets Income Fund II Inc. (NYSE: EDF), Western Asset Global High Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: EHI), Western Asset Global Partners Fund Inc. (NYSE: GDF), Western Asset High Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: HIF), Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (NYSE: HIX), Western Asset Inflation Management Fund Inc. (NYSE: IMF), Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund Inc. (NYSE: MNP), Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund II Inc. (NYSE: MPT) Western Asset Variable Rate Strategic Fund Inc. (NYSE: GFY) and Western Asset Worldwide Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: SBW) announced today the appointment of Paolo M. Cucchi to the Boards of Directors effective March 5, 2007.

Mr. Cucchi is Vice President and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Drew University. He serves as a Director 23 closed-end investment management companies affiliated with Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC, the Funds' investment adviser.

Mr. Cucchi was appointed to serve as a Director on each Board of these Funds until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held in the year in which the term of office to which he has been appointed expires, or until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. Those terms and class to which he has been appointed are as follows:

Western Asset 2008 Worldwide Dollar Government Term Trust Inc. (NYSE: SBG): Class III Director of the Fund; 2009

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc. (NYSE: ESD): Class I Director of the Fund; 2009

Western Asset Emerging Markets Floating Rate Fund Inc. (NYSE: EFL): Class II Director of the Fund; 2009

Western Asset Emerging Markets Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: EMD): Class III Director of the Fund; 2008

Western Asset Emerging Markets Income Fund II Inc. (NYSE: EDF): Class I Director of the Fund; 2009

Western Asset Global High Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: EHI); Class I Director of the Fund; 2008

Western Asset Global Partners Fund Inc. (NYSE: GDF); Class II Director of the Fund; 2008

Western Asset High Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: HIF): Class III Director of the Fund; 2009

Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (NYSE: HIX): Class II Director of the Fund; 2009

Western Asset Inflation Management Fund Inc. (NYSE: IMF): Class I Director of the Fund; 2009

Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund Inc. (NYSE: MNP): Class II Director of the Fund; 2008

Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund II Inc. (NYSE: MPT); Class II Director of the Fund; 2008

Western Asset Variable Rate Strategic Fund Inc. (NYSE: GFY): Class I Director of the Fund; 2010

Western Asset Worldwide Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: SBW): Class I Director of the Fund; 2008

The Funds are advised by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc. and are sub-advised by Western Asset Management Company, an affiliate of the advisor.

For more information on the Funds, please call Investor Relations at 1-888-777-0102 or consult the Funds' web site at www.leggmason.com/InvestorServices.>