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| AU summit extended amid divisions | AU summit extended amid divisions |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia has been extended to a fourth day amid disagreements on the issue of creating a United States of Africa. | An African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia has been extended to a fourth day amid disagreements on the issue of creating a United States of Africa. |
| Many leaders said the proposal by Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi would add a layer of bureaucracy that the continent does not need. | Many leaders said the proposal by Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi would add a layer of bureaucracy that the continent does not need. |
| But they did agree on changing the name of the AU Commission to AU Authority. | But they did agree on changing the name of the AU Commission to AU Authority. |
| Col Gaddafi had used his inaugural address as rotating head of the AU to push his long-cherished unity project. | Col Gaddafi had used his inaugural address as rotating head of the AU to push his long-cherished unity project. |
| The Libyan leader said closer integration between African states should start immediately. | The Libyan leader said closer integration between African states should start immediately. |
| In the long grass? | In the long grass? |
| He envisages a single African military force, a single currency and a single passport for Africans to move freely around the continent. | He envisages a single African military force, a single currency and a single passport for Africans to move freely around the continent. |
| FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World ServiceWhat can Gaddafi offer the AU? class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7869619.stm">US of Africa plan 'fudged' | |
| But other African heads of state said the Libyan leader's plan was not practical. | But other African heads of state said the Libyan leader's plan was not practical. |
| African leaders said they would study the legal implications of the unity proposal, make a report and meet again in three months time. | African leaders said they would study the legal implications of the unity proposal, make a report and meet again in three months time. |
| In other words, says BBC's Mark Doyle in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, they are kicking the ball into the long grass to slow it down. | In other words, says BBC's Mark Doyle in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, they are kicking the ball into the long grass to slow it down. |
| He says the outcome is a political fudge, as no member wishes to alienate the leader of oil-rich Libya. | He says the outcome is a political fudge, as no member wishes to alienate the leader of oil-rich Libya. |
| One participant in the closed-door meeting of the 53-country union said the Libyan leader appeared to admit defeat and laid his head on the table in despair. | One participant in the closed-door meeting of the 53-country union said the Libyan leader appeared to admit defeat and laid his head on the table in despair. |
| Our correspondent says waiting reporters next saw the Libyan leader sweep out of the room accompanied by his protocol man, who had a uniform like that of an airline pilot - but with more gold braid. | Our correspondent says waiting reporters next saw the Libyan leader sweep out of the room accompanied by his protocol man, who had a uniform like that of an airline pilot - but with more gold braid. |
| Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said: "He didn't walk out, he just got tired." | Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said: "He didn't walk out, he just got tired." |
| She denied to the BBC that the outcome was a fudge and said it was a step on the path to a United States of Africa. | She denied to the BBC that the outcome was a fudge and said it was a step on the path to a United States of Africa. |
| Legal implications | Legal implications |
| Leaving the talks in the early hours of Wednesday, Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade said leaders had had a "very rich" discussion that they would resume later in the day. | Leaving the talks in the early hours of Wednesday, Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade said leaders had had a "very rich" discussion that they would resume later in the day. |
| South African President Kgalema Motlanthe appeared upbeat, telling AFP news agency: "A day will be arrived at where there will be a single authority in charge of Africa." | South African President Kgalema Motlanthe appeared upbeat, telling AFP news agency: "A day will be arrived at where there will be a single authority in charge of Africa." |
| Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf denied Col Gaddafi had stormed out | Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf denied Col Gaddafi had stormed out |
| The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa says changing the name of the AU Commission - which is the administrative branch of the organisation - to the AU Authority sounds like a mere formality and a change of notepaper. | The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa says changing the name of the AU Commission - which is the administrative branch of the organisation - to the AU Authority sounds like a mere formality and a change of notepaper. |
| But, she says, it has legal implications as the commission is written into the constitution of the AU. | But, she says, it has legal implications as the commission is written into the constitution of the AU. |
| Our correspondent understands that any amendment to that charter would have to be agreed by two thirds of AU leaders and ratified by their national parliaments. | Our correspondent understands that any amendment to that charter would have to be agreed by two thirds of AU leaders and ratified by their national parliaments. |
| Before arriving at the summit, Col Gaddafi circulated a letter saying he was coming as the king of the traditional kings of Africa. | Before arriving at the summit, Col Gaddafi circulated a letter saying he was coming as the king of the traditional kings of Africa. |
| Last August, he had a group of 200 traditional leaders name him the "king of kings" of Africa. | Last August, he had a group of 200 traditional leaders name him the "king of kings" of Africa. |
| The summit's main agenda - to boost Africa's energy and transport networks - has been pushed largely to the fringes, weighed down by the grim realities of the global economic downturn. | The summit's main agenda - to boost Africa's energy and transport networks - has been pushed largely to the fringes, weighed down by the grim realities of the global economic downturn. |
| Are you in Africa? Should there be a United States of Africa? What has the AU summit achieved? You can send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in Africa? Should there be a United States of Africa? What has the AU summit achieved? You can send us your comments using the form below: |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |