Accra, Feb. 15, GNA - World leaders have declared support to President John Agyekum Kufuor as the newly elected Chairman of the African Union.

A statement issued on Thursday by Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President said the rallying theme in the messages from Heads of State and governments was the widespread acknowledgement of President Kufuor's capacity to devise strategies and initiatives to push the African development agenda.

The messages also looked at President Kufuor's ability in dealing with the myriad of challenges facing the continent, conflict, diseases, poverty, hunger and the incidence of bad governance.

French President Jacques Chirac endorsed the election as a legitimate homage paid President Kufuor by his peers for his personal qualities of wisdom and foresight as well as the active role Ghana had been playing for long towards peace and African integration. Further, it is a seal of approval for Ghana's internationally acknowledged efforts in the area of democratic governance and respect of law and order, he said.

British Prime Minister, Tony Blair envisioned that under President Kufuor's chairmanship, the African Union would continue in its strive to handle challenging agenda like the continuing crisis in Sudan and Somali.

Mr Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Italy expressed the confidence that under President Kufuor's guidance, the process of African integration would be continued.

German President Horst Kohler, noted that President Kufuor's election had come at a difficult time "when the African Union and its member states are currently facing great political and economic challenges".

However, President Kohler said, he viewed the election of his Ghanaian counterpart as a cause of encouragement, and that Ghana would lend vigorous support to all efforts towards good governance, the rule of law and democracy within the continent.