Accra, Jan 9, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor left Accra on Sunday afternoon to Gabon to attend the Peace and Security Council Meeting of the African Union (AU).

He was accompanied by Nana Akufo-Addo, Mr. Kwabena Agyepong, Presidential Spokesperson and other senior officials of the Presidency. In a pre-departure briefing, Mr. Agyepong told Journalists that the meeting, to be chaired by President Omar Bongo of Gabon would take place on January 10 and 11 2005.

He said the meeting would discuss the political situation in Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Darfur, Sudan. Mr. Agyepong said as part of the meeting, President Kufuor would also chair a high level meeting of Heads of State Committee for the development of the Peace and Security Council.

He said this was a preparatory meeting for the AU session to be held in Abuja, Nigeria next month.

President Kufuor was seen off at the Airport by, Ministers of State, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Seth Obeng, Nana Owusu Nsiah, Inspector General of Police and Ibrahim Omar, Dean of Diplomatic Corps and the First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor. The President is expected back on Tuesday, January 11, 2005.