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UN S ecretary General Kofi Annan spearheaded calls for peace on the continent at the opening of an African Union (AU) summit in Maputo yesterday, but warned that a rocky road lay ahead.

Annan said the continent needed political will to achieve stability, while outgoing AU chairperson Thabo Mbeki told the heads of state to invest more time and resources in the development of Africa.

"The United Nations and the rest of the international community can appoint envoys, urge negotiations and spend billions of dollars on peacekeeping missions -- but none of this will solve conflicts if the political will and capacity do not exist in Africa," Annan said.

The three-day summit is expected to discuss some ten conflicts and regards the establishment of a Peace and Security Council to tackle crimes against humanity, as high priority.

The event kicked off with Mbeki announcing that Madagascar, barred from the AU inauguration summit last year because of doubts over the legitimacy of its president, had been readmitted.

The Indian Ocean island state was suspended because the AU judged the change of government to be unconstitutional, despite the United Nations' recognising President Marc Ravalomanana's authority.

"This recognition goes to my heart. It brings us back to the great African family. Thanks to the democratic majority in Madagascar and the support of friendly countries, Madagascar has been able to solve its crisis," Ravalomanana said shortly after being readmitted.

About 40 heads of state and prime ministers will take part in meetings in the next few days, but the leaders of some of Africa's most volatile countries are not attending, including Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila.

Also absent was embattled Liberian President Charles Taylor, who has accepted an asylum offer from Nigeria to end a four-year conflict in his west African country. He has however refused to leave until an international force arrives.

Annan welcomed progress made in peace efforts in Burundi, the DRC, Ivory Coast and Sudan.

"But we continue to witness heartbreaking events in Liberia, as well as the beleaguered regions of Ituri (northeast) and Kivus (east) in the DRC.

"They make it painfully evident that Africa has nowhere near the effective mechanisms it needs to prevent the outbreak of conflict or enforce basic international humanitarian law," Annan said.

He called for the speedy implementation of a peer review mechanism, which will allow African states to evaluate each other on good governance and democracy.

Mbeki said the assembly should decide to establish the Peace and Security Council, which will set up an African Standby Force, and Pan African Parliament before the end of the year.

The protocol for the peace council needs the ratification of at least 27 countries. Only 14 had endorsed it by Wednesday.

"Those of us who are delaying with the ratifications of the protocol must please deal with that question so we can move ahead," Mbeki told the delegates.

The assembly elected the former president of Mali, Alpha Oumar Konare, as chairman of the AU Commission.

Thirty-five out of 45 countries voted for Konare. Six voted against him and four abstained.

Konare, who will be tasked with the day-to-day running of the AU, was the only candidate for the position since interim chairperson Amara Essy of Ivory Coast withdrew from the race.

Patrick Kayuma Mazimhaka of Rwanda was elected deputy chairperson of the AU commission.

The election of commission members was regarded as one of the most important events of the summit since the AU needs to get its institutions up and running.

The New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), an economic and social programme promising good governance in exchange for more aid from the industrialised world, will also feature high on the agenda.

But in between serious discussions, Mozambican President Joachim Chissano and Mbeki provided a few moments of light entertainment.

Mbeki, who will hand over the revolving AU chairmanship to Chissano, pretended to strike him over the head with the ceremonial gavel at the opening session before embracing his friend warmly.

"This is how it happens sometimes when a president doesn't want to leave the seat," Chissano said to laughter from the gathered heads of state. - Sapa-AFP.

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