Libyan crisis tops agenda of AU summit in Equatorial Guinea

The summit's theme "Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development" is likely to be overshadowed by the peace and security situation on the continent especially regarding Libya, Sudan, and the situation in volatile Somalia.

Asha-Rose Migiro, deputy secretary general of the United Nations and former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were among the guests who attended the opening ceremony of the summit.

Jean Ping, chairperson of the AU Commission said that the peace and security situation on the continent had generally improved with post conflict reconstruction experienced in Burundi, Central African Republic and Comoros among others.

He said that the AU was making efforts to ensure that there is a political solution to the Libyan crisis other than the military solution that is being pushed by Western countries.

Lula Da Silva urged Africa to remain united in the face of varied and selfish interests on the international scene.

Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo who is also the current chairperson of the AU urged his counterparts to remain united as the continent faces a critical moment that is testing its unity and cohesion.

"We are aware of the fact that our states and governments are often exposed to pressures created by other countries' interests and extra-African individual ambitions, as well as our differences that very often reduce the AU capacity to effectively solve problems of our continent," he said.

The conflict in Libya remains as one of the top challenges that the AU faces despite its repeated call for a political solution to the crisis; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

To learn more go to www.xinhuanet.com/english2010