Sudan loses African leadership post over Darfur

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 29 (Reuters) The African Union agreed today that Ghana would lead the organisation for the next year after widespread opposition to Sudan emerged because of the Darfur crisis, the AU's top diplomat said.

AU commission head Alpha Oumar Konare told reporters that Ghanaian President John Kufuor would be the AU's chair for the next year. ''By consensus it is President Kufuor,'' he said.

''Sudan supported the decision,'' he added.

The chairmanship was promised to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir a year ago but he was passed over for the post because of the violence in Darfur, which experts estimate has killed 200,000 people and driven 2.5 million from their homes.

Critics, including rights groups and Western governments, said there had been no improvement since then and Sudan must again be barred from leading the organisation whose peacekeepers are trying to stem the violence in its vast western region.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told reporters: ''Sudan attended this meeting and the presidency went to Ghana.

Sudan withdrew.'' Rwandan Foreign Minister Charles Murigande said the decision did not mean it would necessarily go to Sudan next time.

Reuters BDP DB1852