Jean Ping hails Kadhafi’s role in Africa

The new Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Gabonese national Jean Ping, has hailed Libyan leader Muammar Kadhafi’s role in establishing the AU and his strategic vision for Africa’s progress. “I took much advantage of the encouragements (and) advice from Leader Muammar Kadhafi. I must say that history will know that without his efforts, the AU would not have been set up,” the Libyan media quoted Ping as saying. Ping, Gabon’s former Foreign Minister, was elected 2 February during the 10th ordinary summit of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to succeed former Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare. Panapress.