Gaddafi calls for 'United States of Africa'

Colonel Gaddafi wants African leaders at a political summit to back his idea for a United States of Africa.

The call to unite Africa's 50 states to bolster the continent's political and economic global power is high on the agenda at the Togo gathering.

Libya's Gaddafi wants to see a pan-African body based on the current European Union.

Many leaders fear Africa will continue to be ignored by richer countries unless its regions are united.

Gaddafi is likely to win support from smaller African countries. But larger ones like Nigeria are wary of losing their regional influence, it is reported.