African summit opens in Libya without Iran leader
SIRTE, Libya (AP) -- Iran's president canceled a last-minute call to attend an African Union summit in Libya on Wednesday amid a stir among African delegates, who complained the contentious Iranian leader would divert the conference's attention from Africa's pressing problems.
There was no immediate explanation from Iranian or Libyan officials present at the AU summit as to why Mahmoud Ahmadinejad didn't arrive at the summit as planned Wednesday morning in Sirte, east of the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
"All we know is that he isn't coming," said a Libyan official organizing the summit, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to be publicly named.
Ahmadinejad's visit would have been one of his first major public appearances since his troubled re-election in June, which was marred by claims of massive fraud.
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency confirmed Ahmadinejad's cancellation, without citing a reason.
African diplomats at the summit said several delegates had been frustrated with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi for inviting Ahmadinejad without consulting the AU's managing bodies. The diplomats spoke on condition because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Also absent Wednesday at the start of the 13th African Union summit of heads of state was Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Berlusconi, who is hosting a Group of Eight wealthy nations summit next week, canceled his attendance following a train crash and explosion in Italy that killed at least 16 people.
Another unexpected no-show was regional heavyweight Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, who had been expected to address the opening session of the conference. The state-owned Middle East News agency reported Mubarak would send Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif instead. No explanation was given for the cancellation.
Also, the AU Executive Council announced late Tuesday it was lifting sanctions against Mauritania despite the coup held there 10 months ago. But the sanctions could be enforced again if the presidential election due July 18 isn't considered fair. Mauritania has been ruled by a military junta since August.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
