The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zanawi, has called on African countries to promote the participation of women in decision making.

Mr Zenawi was speaking in the capital, Addis Ababa, at the opening session of a four-day conference on women and economic development.

He said the promotion of women's rights was inseparable from democracy.

Earlier, the Organization for African Unity announced the formation of a women's committee to take part in the management and resolution of African conflicts.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service