Sudan asked to drop bid to lead AU, official says

Five African leaders have asked Sudan to withdraw a bid to head the African Union that has prompted worries it could sink the Darfur peace talks and dent the group’s credibility, an AU official said on Monday. Sudan has nominated itself to chair the 53-member AU, based on a tradition that the host becomes the next head. However, Khartoum’s bid has provoked criticism from rights groups which say a Sudanese presidency would damage AU efforts to improve the continent’s record on democracy and human rights, and is opposed by several African regional blocs.