Alpha Oumar Konare, former president of Mali, became the first AU Commission chairman after former interim chairperson Amara Essy quit the competition just before the election.

The assembly appointed eight people as commissioners to the AU Commission, similar to that of the European Commission.

During the three-day meeting, heads of state and government of AU members or their representatives discussed such issues as the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) program, the current situation in Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire, and regional peace efforts.

The establishment of the AU Peace and Security Council, which was expected before the summit, has to be postponed due to a lack of enough ratification of the protocol on setting it up from the AU members.

On July 6-8, the AU Executive Council held a meeting to make preparations for the summit, during which ministers considered the reports of the AU Commission's interim chairperson on refugees, the African Charter on human rights, the Pan-African Parliament, and administrative and financial matters of the AU.

On July 4-6, ambassadors from AU members to the organization or their representatives held the sixth ordinary session of the Permanent Representatives Committee.

The AU, the largest political entity in Africa and modeled on the European Union, seeks to combine politics, economy, military affairs and culture as one, ultimately aimed at unifying currency and achieving free transit of personnel and goods.

Currently, there are 53 members in the AU, which has four key organs -- the Assembly, the Executive Council, the Permanent Representatives Committee and the Commission.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2003)