ADDIS ABABA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- African leaders, who are in Libya's port city of Sirte to attend the 13th summit of the African Union (AU), early Friday agreed to transform the AU's executive body into an authority with a broader mandate, according to reports of news agencies.

    After overnight marathon talks, the African leaders reached a consensus on the transformation of the AU Commission into the AU Authority.

    The new institution comprises a chair, a vice-chair and 10 secretaries with specific portfolios.

    The reports said a draft document was adopted early Friday at the summit after long discussions, though a number of countries, including Nigeria, were opposed to the immediate creation of the authority.

    The transformation, proposed by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi who is also the AU's rotating chairman, also includes the expansion of the new institution's power over defense, diplomatic and international trade matters.