·Ping called on Africa to shoulder responsibilities and help Zimbabwe overcome election problems.
·Ping hailed the efforts by southern African countries in trying to help solve Zimbabwe's problems.
·AU Summit is attended by heads of state and government or representatives of 53 AU members. 

 

The 11th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) is held in the Sharm El-Sheikh International Congress Center in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, June 30, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, June 30 (Xinhua) -- African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Jean Ping on Monday here called on Africa to shoulder responsibilities and help Zimbabwe overcome their election problems.

"Africa must fully shoulder its responsibilities and do everything in its power to help the Zimbabwean parties to work together to help overcome their country's problems," he said at the opening session of the 11th AU summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Ping said he had since his election at the helm of the AU commission been actively engaged in working towards the successful completion of the electoral process initiated in Zimbabwe in all transparency.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (1st R) adjusts his earphone while attending the 11th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) in the Sharm El-Sheikh International Congress Center in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, June 30, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

"It was within this context that I paid a visit to the region at the beginning of the month of May and have since maintained close contacts with SADC and its mediator, as well as with the current chair of the AU."

The AU chief also hailed the efforts by southern African countries in trying to help solve Zimbabwe's problems.

Under the theme "Meeting the Millennium Development Goals on Water and Sanitation", the two-day summit is attended by heads of state and government or representatives of 53 AU members.

Source: Xinhua