Speaker of parliament says priority is peace

The newly elected speaker of the parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ali Diallo, has said that his priority is to bring peace and security to the region, the Panafrican News Agency (PANA) reported on Monday.

Diallo, a Malian, was elected speaker at the first plenary session of the regional parliament which ended on Saturday in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

"We are doing something fast about achieving peace and security," PANA quoted him as saying. "We will have to go to Cote d'Ivoire to pacify the northern and southern populations. Next are Liberia and Guinea. There is also no security in Liberia and Sierra Leone. These are the priorities."

The agency, citing an ECOWAS statement, said the parliament also set up 13 special committees to enable it to coordinate its main responsibility of making legislation to engender regional economic integration.

The committees cover foreign affairs, cooperation, defence and security, laws, regulations, legal and judicial affairs, human rights and free movement of persons, rural development; transport and communications, environment and natural resources, health and social affairs, education, training, employment, youth and sports development, finance and trade.

There are also committees overseeing issues related to industry and mines, energy, technology and scientific research, women's and children's rights, tourism, culture and handicraft, budget control and accounts.