African leaders approve plan to strengthen Union

By Christian Lowe

SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) - African heads of state on Friday approved a plan to enhance the powers of the African Union and give it a role in coordinating defence policy and trade negotiations, a participant in the talks said.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has led a drive to turn the AU into a bloc along the lines of the European Union and had pushed hard for the adoption of the plan at a summit of African leaders he is hosting this week.

A document enhancing the powers of the African Union's executive body was approved at about 4 a.m. (0200 GMT) after many hours of discussions at the summit, Benin's Foreign Minister Jean-Marie Ehouzou, told reporters.

"We haven given agreement for the coordination of foreign affairs and defence," he said.

"The states are ready to cede a little bit a part of their sovereignty for the benefit of the (Union)."

The document has to be ratified by member states' parliaments before it comes into force.

According to a copy of the document seen by Reuters, the AU's executive body will:

* "Coordinate the positions of the member states of the AU during international negotiations."