President back home from AU Meeting

Accra, Oct. 5, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home on Friday from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he held a consultative meeting with the African Union (AU) Commission.

Briefing newsmen on arrival, Mr Andrew Awuni, Presidential Spokesperson said President Kufuor, in his capacity as the AU Chairman held consultation with the Commission on pertinent matters, including recent attacks on AU Peacekeepers in Darfur, Sudan.

He said the visit coincided with that of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany who held discussion with President Kufuor. He quoted President Kufuor as saying that, the AU was not deterred by the attacks in Darfur and called on the United Nation (UN) to expedite action on the deployment of hybrid-peacekeeping force to Darfur.

President Kufuor reiterated the AU position that all AU members should be unconditionally invited to the oncoming European Union Summit, which would be held during the latter part of this year. He said President Kufuor also held discussions with President Menez Zenawi of Ethiopia on a wide range of issues on the continent. At the airport to meet the President were Ministers of State, government officials and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General J.B. Danquah.