Portuguese-speaking Africa may fly united

The Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Jose Maria Neves, has presented in Angola a proposal to amalgamate the national airlines of the five former Portuguese colonies in Africa.

The French news agency,AFP, says that during his official visit to Luanda, Mr Neves handed a report to the Angolan government supporting the economic viability of a common lusophone airline.

It would replace the state-owned carriers from Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe.

Correspondents say there is widespread scepticism about the success of the initiative, with all five companies looking into privatisation as a way out of their financial problems.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service