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