African Union to hold greater sway

Sirte: African leaders agreed yesterday to a Libya-driven push to transform the African Union and in theory greatly extend its powers.

The change was materialised by morphing the African Union's executive body, the commission, into an "African Authority". The draft document adopted at 4am yesterday at the AU summit of heads of states in Sirte, Libya, showed that the new Authority would simplify the AU's structure and boost its power over defence, diplomatic and international trade matters.

The document was viewed as a milestone for the buildup to what Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has long envisioned as a federal government overseeing a "United States of Africa".

"The final text reflects everybody's position," said Benin's Foreign Minister Jean-Marie Ehouzou, the only head of state or country delegate to address journalists as the weary-eyed and tight-lipped officials trickled out of the conference room after over 15 hours of near-uninterrupted talks.

The Authority would have to resolve doubts voiced by many African leaders about unifying Africa under one government, including concerns about national sovereignty, division of resources and power. Most African leaders voice support for more unity, but some of the continent's wealthier nations had appeared to be resisting the move.