NAIROBI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- East African leaders are scheduled to meet in Tanzanian's northern town of Arusha next month to seek ways of fast-tracking the formation of the East African Federation, officials said on Thursday.

    A statement from the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat said the three EAC Heads of State -- President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Mwai Kibaki of Kenya and Tanzania's Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete will converge in Arusha on April 5 for the Seventh Summit of the EAC.

    The EAC summit will also be attended by Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza, and Rwandan Paul Kagame, as well as chief executives of several regional and international organizations, the statement said.

    "The heads of state will consider a Progress Report on Fast Tracking the East African Federation following the Dar es Salaam Communique of May 30, 2005 at which the EAC heads of state reaffirmed the vision of the Political Federation of East Africa and pledged it would be pursued with relentless vigor," the statement said.

    The leaders will also receive progress report of the Council ofMinister of the EAC on the activities which the Community have undertaken during the past year.

    "The heads of state will launch the Third EAC Development Strategy (2006-2010) and also launch the EAC Partnership Fund and the EAC Anthem," the statement said.

    During the summit, the secretariat said east African leaders will appoint a new Secretary General and two new deputies Secretary General following the expiry five-year non-renewable term of the current incumbents. Enditem