Africa Leaders Pledge Olympic Truce

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) â€” African leaders have pledged to halt all hostilities for two weeks in September to honor an Olympic truce. <br><br>The International Olympic Committee, which announced the

Wednesday, July 12th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) â€” African leaders have pledged to halt all hostilities for two weeks in September to honor an Olympic truce.

The International Olympic Committee, which announced the decision Wednesday, has championed such a pledge. The concept of Olympic truces is based on tradition observed during the games in ancient Greece.

At least a dozen African states are plagued by wars or civil unrest, with conflicts in Sierra Leone, Congo and Angola among the most prominent.

Heads of state at the annual Organization of African Unity summit in Togo urged members to observe the truce from Sept. 15 to Oct. 1, and beyond.

The OAU wants the truce to become an ``instrument of peace, dialogue and reconciliation in conflict zones.''