CAIRO, Jan 17 (NNN-KUNA) -- Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on Saturday termed the African Union (AU) stance regarding the Palestinian cause as "pioneering." Moussa's remarks to reporters came after the conclusion of the league's fifth general cooperation meeting with the AU Commission.

The meeting discussed a host of political issues, especially state of affairs in Sudan, Somalia, and the Comoros Islands, as well as preparations for the Arab-African summit and domains of cooperation, he noted, pointing out that specific steps were also taken in regard of intellectual property, training and agricultural cooperation.

He added that Sunday will see a meeting for the preparatory committee of the second Arab-African summit, to be held in Libya by yearend.

On his part, AU Commission Commissioner Jean Ping said that the union does not agree to any African country to provide support for rebels in Somalia.

The AU peacekeeping force in Somalia is there in light of absence of UN forces, Ping said, adding "the union had a role in the Darfur crisis before the UN's intervention, and is now involved in the major peace process led by the UN".--NNN-KUNA