S. Africa Stages Spectacular Celebration for Birth of African Union

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, July 09, 2002

S. Africa Stages Spectacular Celebration for Birth of African Union

South Africa started a spectacular and fun-filled event for the birth of the African Union for the whole continent in its coastal city of Durban which began Tuesday morning.

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South Africa started a spectacular and fun-filled event for the birth of the African Union for the whole continent in its coastal city of Durban which began Tuesday morning.

With colorful national flags of 52 African countries waving in gentle breeze in the Absa Stadium, South African President Thabo Mbeki declared the opening of the grand celebration ceremony at 11:40 a.m. (0940 GMT).

African leaders from 52 member states arrived in the stadium, being preceded by a girl holding flag of the relevant country and a uniformed police on guard. The great political event turns into a big sport competition.

The heads of state at present include Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi, who is father of the idea of transition from the OAU to the AU, the youngest President Joseph Kabila from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and UN chief Kafi Annan.

Former South African president Nelson Mandela received a very hot applause from the audience as he was walking into the stadium.

The ceremony began with a bang from 21-gun salute by bombardiers of the Natal Field Artillery.

Broadcast to television audiences around the world, the opening ceremony at the stadium features dramatic fly-pastes, a military tattoo by about 800 South African National Defense Force members, including the presidential guard, fanfares of trumpets and drums,Amabutho Zulu regiments, horse and dog displays, and massed bands and choirs.

Thousands of balloons and pigeons were released from the stadium.

The grand inauguration ceremony is still going on.

Entertainers include the popular Cape Minstrels, who are going to show off their youngest star, 11-year-old Charlton Swartz.

There will be a fly-past at the same time as the gun salute, involving a military Boeing with three Cheetahs following just meters behind.

As a general salute is taken, there will be another fly-past by a formation of three Oryx helicopters from Durban's 15 Squadron led by Maj. Graham Chisholm.

Weeks of detailed planning have gone into big day, and security is extremely tight, said Comm. Johan Deyzel, chairman of the Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure.

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