The African Union (AU) Commission could be transformed into an authority to accelerate the continent's political and economic integration, a senior African diplomat has disclosed.

The transformation was a major topic during the just ended 12th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council on the African Union, Zambia News and Information Service (ZANIS) reported on Wednesday, citing a statement by Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Tiens Kapoma in Lusaka.

Kapoma said the transformation of the commission into an authority is intended to strengthen the institutional framework of the union, promote political and social-economic integration on the continent and achieve the final goal of the United States of Africa.

Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande attended the recent meeting opened by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the current AU chairperson, who offered the idea of the United States of Africa several years ago.

The meeting also highlighted the need for free movement of persons, goods and services, as well as inter-continental infrastructure, ZANIS said.

Participants proposed the authority be composed of 10 members, including its president, a vice president and union secretaries, according to ZANIS.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2009)