OAU head confident of more Comoros talks

The secretary-general of the Organisation of African Unity, Salim Ahmed Salim, says he is confident representatives of the government of the Comoro Islands will meet secessionist leaders again soon.

Talks mediated by his organisation ended on Sunday without agreement on the main issues.

Mr Salim said the Comoran government adopted a flexible attitude and offered greater autonomy for the islands of Anjouan and Moheli, which declared independence in August.

Mr Salim said independence was out of the question and accused the secessionists of coming to the talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, with a fixed position which made negotiations difficult.

No date has been set for the next round of talks.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service.