Libyan leader Moammar Gadaffi arrived in the Mozambican capital, Maputo, by road from neighbouring Swaziland on Sunday, on the third stage of a journey through southern Africa which started with the inauguration of the new African Union in South Africa last week.
Gadaffi, who arrived in a 60-strong motorcade amid tight security, was met by Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano at the Independence Square in the heart of the city.
Around 5 000 cheering bystanders, some holding placards bearing his portrait, greeted Gadaffi under the watchful eye of police who closed several main avenues.
Presidential press aide, Antonio Matonse told AFP Gadaffi and Chissano would hold talks on Sunday on relaunching cooperation between Mozambique and Libya.
Matonse said Gadaffi would leave on Tuesday for Zimbabwe, before going on to Malawi.
During Mozambique’s war of independence against Portugal, Libya trained its guerrillas and supplied them with military equipment.
Gadaffi also lashed out at the New Economic Plan for Africa’s Development (Nepad).
Speaking to reporters after the meeting with Chissano, Gadaffi criticised the initiative closely linked to the African Union.
Nepad offers Africa democracy and sound economic policies in exchange for greater aid and trade opportunities, but Gadaffi dismissed it as a scheme that aims to impose western-style democracies on Africa.
He said this would interfere with the religions and traditions of Africa. ”We don’t need many (political) parties in Africa,” he said. – Sapa-AFP