41.   - commitment to begin negotiations in July in Brasilia with members of the Mercosur economic bloc grouping Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

42.   Addressing the meeting, General Abacha urged African countries to rise to the challenges of emerging economic blocs throughout the world in order to improve their ailing economies.

43.   But a customs union has been held up by differences over the level of tariff, which widely varies in the political, defence and economic bloc.

44.   Moi also appointed Philip Mbithi as secretary general to the East African Community, a regional economic bloc that comprises Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

45.   One of the highlights of the trip will be a seminar in Kuala Lumpur on relations between the ASEAN and Mercosur economic blocs.

46.   The East African Community, a regional economic bloc that comprises Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, is in the process of being revived.