OAU appeal to Africans

The head of the Organisation of African Unity, Amara Essy, has called on all Africans to work towards peace, security and development, and to fight against disease, wars and terrorism.

In a New Year speech in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Mr Essy recalled that the year 2001 had been a difficult one for the African continent, marked by many conflicts, poverty and the continuing spread of the disease Aids.

But he said he was optimistic about the future and hoped that African states would work towards making the new African Union - which will replace the OAU later this year - as effective as possible.

Correspondents say the new organisation will try to cement prosperity and democracy through regional integration.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service