20100129
press tv

The African Union protests the economic sanctions the United States has placed on a number of African states over their alleged undemocratic policies.

The AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Tankeu, says that despite the Union's warning on the futility of US market restrictions for some African countries, the United States continues to block certain African states — including Madagascar, Guinea and Niger — from entering the American market.

She said the US accuses the countries of pursuing 'undemocratic' policies.

"We have asked them to separate political issues from economic issues," Reuters quoted Tankeu as saying to journalists on the sidelines of a summit of the 53-member body on Thursday.