(LENA)-A long-time fantasy for a united African continent might soon become a reality if all members of the Organisation of African Unity could agree on the formation of African Union and a Pan-African Parliament.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Tom Thabane, echoed this when reporting back to the National Assembly on the deliberations of the African Union forum held recently.

Mr Thabane said Col. Muammar Gaddafi and other North African leaders proposed for establishment of African Union, which act as a central body from which national governments will surrender their sovereignty.

The Minister said this modest proposal was acknowledged with applaud, because the establishment of African Union would mean the restructuring and strengthening of the now Organization of African Unity, but this will have to wait for all leaders to consult their respective nations.

He added that heads of government and state will have to further discuss what shape should the Pan-African Parliament take, criteria of electing representation to such parliament, its jurisdiction and powers over national governments, etc.

He said: "One proposal was that the parliament should take the form of similar to that of United States Congress, in that all transcontinental laws should be binding to all members, just as it happens in the United States, where a federal law affects all states, while there exists statelegislature."

Mr. Thabane stated on the contrary, some Southern African states believed that the parliament should come up as an advisory body, which will give advice to individual national governments, while national governments still retain their sovereignty.

The hoped African Union is expected by the end of 2000 and 2001, and the proposal is that the parliament should be formed of Members of Parliament from national parliaments.