Brad Pitt was seen hand in hand with Angelina Jolie in Africa. (Dayoo photo)

BEIJING, April 27 -- Despite denials of a romance between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for the last several months, rumors continue to circulate that they are in fact a "couple," as new photographs show the couple on a beach in Africa, according to published reports.

    Pitt, 41, separated from his wife, Jennifer Aniston, in January. At the time of their breakup, there was speculation in the tabloids of a romance between Pitt and the 29-year-old Jolie, who star in the upcoming film "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

    Pitt has strenuously denied being involved with Jolie. But he and Jolie have been the subject of intense speculation since filming the sexy action flick, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," slated for release in June.

    The reports said the photos show Pitt, Jolie and her 3-year-old son Maddox playing in the sand and strolling on the beach. Pitt and Jolie aren't shown being affectionate with each other.

    Katrina Szish, Us' style editor, told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm Tuesday the denials coming from the two aren't surprising in the least.

    "Of course they (denied it)," Szish says. "But there is a relationship. They are definitely together.

    When reminded Pitt's publicist, Cindy Guagenti, said the Us story about them frolicking by a hotel pool was completely untrue, Szish shot back, "Just look at the pictures and you see they're are acting like a family, they look like a family."

    Though there are no photos of the two kissing, "It's a lot more body language. There are reports of eyewitnesses who said they were kissing in the pool. They were holding hands. There was lots of very sexy suntan lotion rubbing.

    The photos will be featured in the Us hitting newsstands Friday.

    How is Jennifer Aniston holding up during all this?

    "Sources close to Jennifer tell you that she is, frankly, really bummed out. She's been very anti-social, leaning very heavily on Courteney Cox for support. And she's having a hard time."

Over the weekend, Pitt, who is a special ambassador in Nelson Mandela's fight against HIV and AIDS, was in Ethiopia visiting orphans of the AIDS pandemic that is devastating Africa, a spokesman said Tuesday.

    The star of "Troy" and "Fight Club" also visited projects offering AIDS treatment as part of the ONE campaign, which strives to improve trade and debt terms for poor countries and provide lifesaving drugs for people infected with the HIV virus.

    His trip was organized by DATA ¡ª a Washington-based lobby group co-founded by the rock star Bono.

    Pitt was in Ethiopia from Saturday to late Monday.

    (Agencies)