African leaders convene in Libya

Sirte: African leaders and Brazil's president called for greater cooperation to boost peace and development efforts as the 13th African Union summit of heads of state opened on Wednesday.

The leaders had a host of issues to address, including coups and civil wars to the backlash of the economic crisis and the challenges of global warming.

Several high-profile guests to the summit stayed home at the last minute, including Italy's Silvio Berlusconi, Egypt's Hosni Mubarak and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The AU summit's host, Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi, said his Italian "friend" had called up to excuse himself. He made no comment on the Egyptian and Iranian's absence.

African diplomats at the summit in the coastal town of Sirte, east of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, said several delegates had been frustrated with Gaddafi for inviting Ahmadinejad.

Though the summit's official theme is agriculture, "unfolding events tend to catch up with us," AU executive chairman Jean Ping told The Associated Press.

"Our works are taking place amid an unprecedented global economic crisis and an increase of grave political tensions and persistent conflicts in Africa," Ping also said in his speech at the opening session.