African Leaders Arrive in Durban for OAU/AU Summit

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 08, 2002

African Leaders Arrive in Durban for OAU/AU Summit

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A total of 20 African heads of state had arrived at Durban, South Africa for a summit to launch the African Union (AU) by 4:20 p.m. local time (1420 GMT) Saturday, the South Africa Foreign Affairs Department confirmed.

These African leaders are from Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,Kenya, Libya, Mozambique, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, the Sudan and Tanzania.

They were greeted by South African cabinet members, with Ninister of Home Affairs Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Minister of Defense Mosiuoa Lekota taking turn to lead the welcoming party. OAU Scretary-General Amara Essy is also present on the occasions.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived here Saturday evening.

Most of the 52 African leaders invited have confirmed their attendance at the three-day summit. The AU is to formally be launched on Tuesday.

South African President Thabo Mbeki arrived in Durban on Saturday morning to prepare for an implementation committee meeting of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Sunday afternoon.

Mbeki is hosting the inaugural summit Tuesday and is expected to become the first chairman of the AU.

African ministers wrapped up their discussion early Sunday morning and reached an agreement on the establishment of the Peaceand Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), which is setto be inaugurated here Tuesday. The PSC will be composed of 15 members, modeled on the UN Security Council, and elected on the basis of one vote per country.

They also decided to hold their next meeting in Maputo, capitalof Mozambique.

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