O.A.U. to debate front

Press, 6 July 1977, Page 8

O.A.U. to debate front

NZPA-Reuter Libreville, Gabon The Organisation of African Unity summit will today debate whether to give exclusive recognition to the Patriotic Front fighting for control of white-ruled Rhodesia. President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia has said that the new Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) could only grow from “the barrel of a gun” and it would be suicidal to permit r more than one liberation army.

Recognition of the front, headed by the nationalist leaders, Mr Robert Mugabe ‘and Mr Joshua Nkomo, would not preclude a multiparty system once Mr lan Smith’s Government had been toppled, he said.

But with the summit about to end, and supporters of Bishop Abel Muzorewa’s rival nationalist group among the 49 O.A.U. members, the outcome is uncertain.

Conference sources said it was also doubtful whether committees set up to resolve differences between Chad and Libya and between Ethiopia and its neighbours, Sudan and Somalia, would be able to reach conclusions before the summit meeting closed. President Felix Malloum of Chad said Libya had oc-l cupied a strip of desert in ; the northern part of his i country since 1973. Libya i claims that the area near the i Aouzou oasis is Libyan territory.