Kampala - The 15th session of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) started this Sunday in Kampala, Uganda, in which Angola is participating with a delegation led by the President of the Republic, José Eduardo dos Santos.

More than 40 Heads of State and Government, as well as the Mexican President, Filipe Calderon, and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority, both of them as guests of honour to the gathering, and the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon are attending the summit.

The ceremony, which began with the singing of the AU anthem by the choir of Ugandan orphan children, whose parents died of HIV/AIDS and victims of the armed conflict in this country of Eastern Africa, was opened with speeches by the chairman of the AU Commission, Jean Ping, by the UN assistant secretary general, Asha-Rose Migiro and by the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan.

The session also counted on a speech by Amr Moussa, secretary general of the Arab League, under the guidance of the AU acting chairperson and President of Malawi, Bingu Wa Mutharika, who recognised the efforts being made in order to relieave Africa from the poverty affecting millions of its people.

Mutharika availed the opportunity to present his condolences on the death of the former Nigeria President, Umaro yar Adua, and to the victims of the double attempt in Uganda, having called for a minute of silence from the participating entities.

The President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, stressed the need to eliminate the arrogance of terrorists who lead a unfair conflict against the AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), attacking the flags placed on the headquarters of these forces in that region, having questioned what are their intention.

A special message was addressed to the representative of the American President, the attorney Eric Holder, and to the guests of honour.