New political union launched in Africa
At least 40 of the continent’s 53 presidents and monarchs were in the port resort of Durban to see the launch of the African Union (AU) with President Thabo Mbeki as chairman for its first year. “Through our actions let us proclaim to the world that this is a continent on the rise,” Mbeki told some 20,000 people in a sports stadium before a helicopter fly-past and a concert by South African musicians.
The crowd gave its biggest cheer to ex-President Nelson Mandela, 83, who spent 27 years in prison for his fight against white minority rule.
