Mugabe implored African leaders

President Robert Mugabe has implored African leaders to seek African solutions to African problems and seek help from the United Nations where needed to ensure that the continent's interests are protected against external groups with selfish interests.

The President was addressing African heads of state and government at the just - ended 19th ordinary session of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday.

President Mugabe began his address on peace and security in the region by expressing concern over the situation in Mali which is faced with the threat of cessation and destruction of the country's sacred sites.

He called on the African Union to deal decisively with the Mali crisis through the deployment of an effective ECOWAS force.

On Sudan, the President expressed optimism following the recent meeting between presidents Salva Kiir and Omar al Bashir, saying they should honour the pledges they made to the Peace and Security Council to follow the path to peace and cooperation.

Sudan and Southern Sudan which declared independence last year are involved in a dispute over the distribution of oil wealth and border demarcations, as well as the future of some disputed territories such as Abiye.

The summit was held under the theme "Boosting Intra-African Trade", but issues of peace and security and the election of a new African Union Commission boss took centre stage.

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