MINISTERS and officials from 11 African countries who hold a controlling share in Air Afrique have held an emergency meeting to discuss the fate of the cash-strapped carrier. Air Afrique’s new director, American Jeffrey Erickson, announced a two-month lay-off of a quarter of the 4_000-strong workforce after he took over the ailing airline in January. On February 13, management raised that figure to 2_000 employees. The unions denounced the move illegal and put forward an alternative rescue plan. Air Afrique has gone through four rescue plans since 1993 and is currently facing a deep crisis with debts of more than 332 billion CFA francs. – AFP