News In Brief

Sekou Toure passing likely to delay OAU talks

The passing of Guinean President Ahmed Sekou Toure is almost certain to force a postponement of the next Organization of African Unity (OAU) summit, African diplomats said Tuesday.

Mr. Sekou Toure was scheduled to become chairman of the OAU at the summit, tentatively scheduled for June or late May. Diplomats say the next meeting may be delayed until year's end.

They said the absence of Mr. Toure, who passed on Monday, would add weight to earlier requests by OAU states to delay the meeting until there is some progress on the Western Sahara, where Polisario guerrillas are fighting to end Moroccan control of the former Spanish territory.

Last month, OAU officials warned that the group's survival was threatened by serious financial challenges.