Accra, July 2, GNA - African leaders attending the Ninth Summit of the African Union (AU) in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, on Monday got down to the serious business of discussing the sort of Union Government (aka United States of Africa) they wanted for the Continent.

While, there is total agreement on integration, a common understanding of the form and time line remain the main hurdles. At a closed session, chaired by AU Chairman, President John Agyekum Kufuor, eight leaders were billed to present their positions during the morning session.

They included President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the Algerian President, President El-Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Mr Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Losotho.

The other leaders were Libyan Leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who has been pushing for the immediate establishment of a continental Government, common currency and army, Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'dua, President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, and Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

The closed session debate would continue to Tuesday, July 3. Their submissions were preceded by a presentation of the conclusions of the 10th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council by Ghana's Foreign Minister, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo. President Kufuor had counselled his colleague leaders at the official opening of the summit, which opened on Sunday not to fail Africa and its future by taking unexamined decisions. "I am confident that at the end of our deliberations we should be able to arrive at a common understanding of the sort of continental Government, we want for ourselves and how to develop a road map with time lines towards its realisation."

"The task before us is enormous but exciting. We are at the cross-roads, and at the same time at the threshold, of a new era, with great opportunities but also many challenges and responsibilities for Africa.

"We therefore, must not fail the people of Africa and the future of our continent by unexamined decisions during this Grand Debate."