EWOWAS Mediator briefs AU Chairman Kufuor

Accra, Feb. 20, GNA - General Ibrahim Babangida, former Nigerian Head of State and ECOWAS appointed-Mediator for the Guinean crisis, has held a closed-door meeting with African Union (AU) Chairman President John Agyekum Kufuor, on the disturbing political situation in that country, at the Castle, Osu.

In attendance was Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS Commission.

Sources close to the meeting told the Ghana News Agency that General Babangida briefed the AU Chairman on his just ended visit to Conakry and ways to find negotiated peaceful settlement to the disturbing political crisis.

He had earlier conferred with the ECOWAS Chairman, President Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso.

Guinea, a West African nation with a population of about 10 million, has been plunged into political turmoil over the demand by the labour union that President Lansana Conte, who it says, "is too old and sick to govern should resign."

The President responded with the imposition of a curfew and the declaration of a state of emergency, giving more powers to the military. The Union leaders have refused to hold talks with the Government. 20 Feb. 2007