SIRTE, Libya, July 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Leaders and senior officials of 53 African countries gathered Monday in the Libyan port city of Sirte for an African Union (AU) summit with focus on poverty reduction, the continent's integration and a common position over the UN reform.

   UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso also attended the pan-African summit and delivered speeches.

   The following are key quotes from African and world leaders:

   LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GHADDAFI:

   "African countries should be united, but they are not necessary to lose sovereignty ... Africa is a rich continent and Africans should use these resources wisely."

   "We are a single nation ... we should establish a borderless continent with an African common market, one passport and a single currency ... The AU should create a defense minister, who is in charge of a standing peacekeeping army."

   AU PRESIDENT, NIGERIAN PRESIDENT, OLUSEGUN OBASANJO

   "Poverty is still a problem in the continent, but the good news is that at national and continental levels, there is increased awareness of the linkage between poverty and political
instability."

   "Let us give serious consideration to some of the root causes of Africa's socio-economic problems and let us do something about them as it is now being expected in the G-8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland."

   AU COMMISSION CHAIRMAN ALAPHA OUMAR KONARE

   "Although the integration of Africa is a long process, the AU progresses firmly toward the goal."

   "The AU supports the United Nations reform ... Africa will play a bigger role in the revived United Nations."

   UN SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN

   "We need true breakthroughs on aid, debt and trade. We also need strong support for 'quick wins' in vital areas such as malaria control and education."

   "I commend the African Union for its leadership in tackling African security challenges."

   "I know you are discussing this issue (the UN reform) at this summit. I urge you to seize this precious opportunity."

   EU COMMISSION HEAD JOSE MANUEL BARROSO

   "I'll go to Gleneagles, Scotland ... and to the UN summit in September in a bid to urge other rich nations to match our initiative to increase aid to Africa." Enditem