Sirte, Libya, July 4, SPA -- Amid global calls to combat poverty inAfrica, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi called on Africannations to stop "begging" during the opening Monday of anAfrican summit attended by more than 50 leaders from thiscontinent. Gadhafi also urged African countries to overcome pastfailures. "Pleading to the G-8 to lift debts won't make a futurefor Africa," said Gadhafi, wearing his traditional Africandress while praising Africa's natural resources andtreasures. "We need cooperation between the big and thesmall countries in the world." "Begging won't make a future for Africa," he was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and ArabLeague Secretary-General Amr Moussa also attended theopening of the two-day meeting, held during a series ofinternational protests and Live-8 concerts ahead ofWednesday's Group of Eight meeting of wealthy nations atthe Gleneagles resort in Scotland African leaders meeting in Sirte, a coastal city onLibya's Mediterranean coast, are expected to try unite andpush for at least one permanent seat on the U.N. SecurityCouncil. The summit is also expected to discuss conflictsin Africa, particularly the Darfur crisis, and issue andinternational appeal to help the continent battle diseaseand famine during the two-day summit. The 53-nation African Union was created in 2002 as thesuccessor to the Organization of African Unity.--SPA1331 Local Time 1031 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/274490