Meles will take part in the G20 summit due for next month in London. He will attend the summit as current chairman of NEPAD and also in response to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's invitation extended to him to represent Africa during the event.

The prime minister touched on issues around this G20 summit in his keynote address and paper he presented at the recent 12th AU assembly of heads of state and government held in Addis Ababa.

In his paper, Meles emphasized that Africa should be given a real voice in international financial dealings and that the international financial institutions limit or put an end to conditionalities on Africa in resource flow.

Meles also noted the need for Africa to press for a situation whereby development aid to Africa would not diminish amidst the current global financial and economic crisis.

Upon departure at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Prime Minister Meles was seen off by senior government officials and ambassadors, according to an ETV reporter.

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