/ 23 June 2000

SUMMIT OF CENTRAL AFRICAN LEADERS UNDERWAY

A TWIN-SUMMIT of heads of state and government of central Africa opened on Friday in Libreville with five heads of state from the sub-region attending. Scheduled to begin on Thursday, the Central African Economic and Monetary Community and the Economic Community of Central African States summits were delayed for 24 hours due to the late arrival of certain invited guests. Shortly after the opening ceremony, the meetings were quickly adjourned and were due to reopen in the afternoon, a Gabonese presidential protocol officer said. Only four heads of state, a prime minister and a foreign minister are attending the meeting hosted by Gabon’s President Omar Bongo. The CEEAC comprises 11 member countries.