A Study in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Type II of the Effect on Albuminuria of 24 Week Treatment With Valsartan, Benazepril, and Valsartan+Benazepril

Inclusion Criteria: * male or female patients aged 35-75 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus and recent evidence of persistent microalbuminuria * patients with a median (of 3 samples) timed overnight UAER in the microalbuminuric range of 20-200 g/min in the formal screening period prior to entry * patients who give written, signed, informed consent. * patients with/without mild /moderate hypertension. * patients who are not on hypertensive treatment, or if they are already on treatment, those who accept to enter a 3 weeks no-treatment wash-out period before switching their treatment. * patients without any accompanying systemic disease Exclusion Criteria: * pregnant or nursing women, or women of childbearing potential not using an acceptable method of contraception * patients with type I diabetes mellitus defined by onset below the age of 35 years and requiring insulin within the first year after diagnosis Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria may apply.