Veep in Libya for special AU summit

Accra, Aug. 31, GNA- Vice President John Dramani Mahama has left Accra for the Libyan capital; Tripoli, to attend a Special African Union (AU) Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for August 30 to September 3.

Mr Mahama was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni.

A statement issued by Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, Spokesperson for the Vice President in Accra on Sunday, said the summit, was at the invitation of the Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi who is also the Chairman of the AU, ostensibly to discuss the resolution of conflicts in Africa. It said Muammar Ghadhafi floated the idea at the last African Summit held at Sirte-Libya about two months ago.

The statement said at the last meeting, Heads of the AU endorsed a proposal to hold the summit to help resolve the many crises the Continent was facing.

The summit would discuss the conflicts in three major hot spots of Darfur, Somalia and the Great Lakes Region, including the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sidelines of the summit include the promotion of trade among AU member states.

The statement said the summit would coincide with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, which brought the Libyan leader to power in 1969.