Mubarak attends AU summit in Libya's Sirte

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak arrived here Monday morning to attend African Union's two-day annual summit due to open later in the day.

Mubarak, accompanied by a delegation grouping Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, Minister Omar Soliman and Chief of the Presidential Cabinet Dr Zakaria Azmi, was welcomed upon arrival by Egyptian Defence Minister Abu Baker Yuniss Jaber.

Heads of state and government as well as their representatives from 53 African Union (AU) members are gathering here for the summit.

During their two-day meeting, the leaders will discuss issues like regional conflicts in Africa, the continent's development and debt cancellation, as well as Libya's proposal on AU construction.

In addition, the leaders, who are to be joined by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, are also expected to discuss the UN reform, seeking two permanent seats to Africa.

The AU, consisting of 53 members and modeled on the European Union, was launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity.

The African Foreign Ministers wound up their meetings on Sunday which prepared for the Sirte summit.

The leaders will discuss a host of political, economic and financial issues and coordination of African stances towards international issues.

Source: Xinhua