Last OAU ministerial talks open

Last OAU ministerial talks open

SOUTH AFRICA: African ministers on Thursday began the last
meeting of the 53-member Organization of African Unity (OAU)
before its rebirth as the African Union (AU) with promises that
the new body will deal more firmly with political crises.

The 76th ministers' meeting was opened by host country South
Africa's Deputy President Jacob Zuma, who said Madagascar's
exclusion from the inaugural summit of the AU next week was proof
of this resolve.

The Indian Ocean island has been barred from the AU launch as
African countries recognize neither of Madagascar's feuding
leaders, whose rivalry plunged the country into civil conflict
following December elections.

"The decision on Madagascar is a big indication on the new way
of doing things," Zuma told delegates.

Madagascar's outgoing president Didier Ratsiraka has refused
to concede defeat to Marc Ravalomanana and demanded that a second
round vote be held, but the constitutional court -- reshuffled by
Ravalomanana from Ratsiraka's team -- upheld the results in
April. -- AFP