AU opposed to Bashir’s arrest

The head of the AU Commission, Mr Jean Ping, called on the IMF to release the money it had pledged at the last G20 summit in London.

At that time the IMF promised it would sell its gold assets to raise funds for Africa.

Bold ambitions

Col Gaddafi thinks the long-term solution is unity - a federal government to speak out for all countries on the economy, on defence and foreign policy.

The bold ambitions he has set out for a United States of Africa would be modelled on the European Union, with one economic bloc, one currency, perhaps even one voice on the UN Security Council.

The rationale is sound. African countries have this peculiar trait of trading more with the outside world than they do between themselves. The trade barriers between them are often the biggest obstacle to building competitive economies of scale. (Agencies)