African Union Summit Opens in Ethiopia

African Union heads of state began a three-day summit Thursday in Addis Ababa focused on the deadly crisis in Kenya and the challenges facing the body's peacekeeping missions.

African Union Summit Opens in Ethiopia ảnh 1
United States Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer (R) and Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, Said Djinnit (2R) talk to the media during a press conference January 30 at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was expected to address the 53-state organization and call for a peaceful resolution of the post-election dispute in Kenya, a country whose stability is seen as key for the region.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, who is accused by the opposition movement of defeated presidential candidate Raila Odinga of rigging his way to re-election last month, arrived Thursday to take part in the summit.

Odinga's movement has warned that Kibaki's presence in the ranks of the heads of state would amount to a recognition of his election, despite widespread concerns over flaws in the vote count of the December 27 polls.

The dispute has spurred Kenya's worst political crisis in 25 years and ignited violence that has killed around 1,000 people in a month.

Also on the summit's agenda will be Africa's other conflicts, as well as internal leadership issues, including the renewal of the position of AU commission chairman, currently held by Alpha Oumar Konare.

The rotating chair of the organization, currently held by Ghana, is also expected to change, with Tanzania holding the lead after Sudan's bid was snuffed out by fellow members' reservations over its handling of the crisis in Darfur.

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