Prime Mister Lawrence Gonzi is in Lisbon for the first EU-African leaders' summit in seven years. He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Michael Frendo and Malta's permanent representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana.

The summit is expected to discuss various issues, including curbing illegal migration to Europe and EU assistance for African economic development.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is among those attending, his first such high profile participation for many years.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has stayed away in protest at the presence of Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who has been widely criticised for human rights abuse..

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