Problems on path to 'United States of Africa'

SIRTE, Libya: Security, piracy and international justice were top issues on Thursday's agenda at an African Union summit of heads of state set to lay the groundwork for an eventual United States of Africa.

Libya, the host of the 13th AU summit, held in the coastal town of Sirte east of the capital, Tripoli, is putting strong pressure on other African countries to agree to change the AU "Commission" into an "Authority". The goal is to simplify the AU to create a more powerful and cohesive body, seen as a buildup for what Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi ultimately envisions as the "United States of Africa".

But some of the continent's wealthier nations, led by Nigeria and South Africa, appear to be resisting the move. African diplomats say there are worries the new structure could become overbearing, especially given Gadhafi's tendency to intervene across Africa over the past decades. They say a foreign ministers' meeting late on Wednesday ended with some countries storming out of the room. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.

Jean Ping, the AU executive chairman, denied there was any tension. He said on Wednesday that "The United States of Africa remains an ultimate goal accepted by all; the debate is simply how fast to reach it".

The heads of state were due to discuss how to transform the AU into an authority Thursday. Diplomats said they were also discussing more practical matters, like trading the current AU flag for a star-studded banner to reflect the notion of united statehood. But, there too, there appeared to be disagreements, including how many stars the flag should show and how they could be added or removed in the future.

The other main debates Thursday focused on "prevention, management and resolution of election-related disputes and violent conflicts in Africa," as well as "the prevention of unconstitutional changes of governments," according to the official agenda. Africa has recently experienced an increase in coups d'etat, from Madagascar to Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau, as well as ongoing turmoil in Zimbabwe and violence in Sahara Desert nations like Sudan and Niger.

Diplomats also say it is likely the AU summit will agree to boost the numbers of the 4,300-strong AU peacekeeping force struggling to contain piracy and civil war in Somalia - considered the biggest current threat to Africa's stability.

Louis Michel, the European Union's Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, said he hoped the AU would go beyond sending troops.

"There's also a need for a stronger mandate, so that peace can be imposed," Michel told AP at the summit Thursday. He said rules of engagement should be strengthened to give greater leeway for peacekeepers to use their firepower.

Michel said the EU was also pushing for a regional plan to pacify the whole Horn of Africa region, from Somalia to Ethiopia, South Sudan and Darfur in the west. "From pastoralism to water resources and droughts: the region has similar problems, and stability will only come if they're solved," he said.

AP