Freetown — Libyan Leader Colonel Muammmar Gaddafi has raised serious concerns over the conspicuous absence of heads of state and leaders including President Ernest Bai Koroma for the 11th session of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States CEN-SAD in Sabratha, southeast of Tripoli.

Out of over thirty registered members of CEN- SAD only few heads of state were present for what eventually turned out to be a very important summit.

The meeting discussed actions initiated by Gaddafi to improve the income of rural populations especially women agriculturists, animal and plant protection, micro-credit schemes, mechanization of farming activities, combating agricultural plights, human and animal immunization campaigns among others.

Gaddafi angrily said: "When presidents meet it is not allowed for ambassadors to be there. This meeting was strictly organized for heads of state not prime ministers or ambassadors. All CEN-SAD heads of state were invited three months ahead of the summit; it was unfortunate that most of them did not attend.

"We cannot achieve African unity if we continue like this. We have planned already to establish CEN-SAD banks in all member states but those who are absent for this summit will definitely not benefit from the banking package," he said.

Gaddafi explained that the rural banking system would help development countries to address their economic problems as it would also give opportunity to farmers and small scale business enterprises to get loan.

He said it was unfortunate that most of the countries that were in dire need of assistance could not attend.

However, Sierra Leone ambassador to Libya Dr. Mohamed Kamara explained to Concord Times that it was not a deliberate attempt by president Koroma to boycott the meeting. He said Libyan authorities were informed about the reasons for his absent.

The envoy further stated that president Koroma has enormous respect for the Libyan leader given that there was a strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.

"The CEN-SAD meeting coincided with another meeting in China and president Koroma decided to attend the China meeting because it was long overdue. That was communicated to the Libyan authorities before the CEN-SAD conference," he said adding that it was not a deliberate attempt on the side of the Sierra Leonean president.