PARIS�Libyan leader Mu-ammar Gadhafi, having demonstrated past support for "liberation" fighters in numerous countries, has said the time for war is over and called for the creation of a United States of Africa, in a recent interview published in the French daily Le Figaro.

The Libyan leader, who is to host a summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in coming days, said the time had come for the continent to unite into a federation, disband costly armies and work for development.

The summit, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Mr. Gadhafi�s toppling of the Libyan monarchy, is intended to show solidarity with Tripoli which suffered UN sanctions imposed following the bombing of a Pan Am airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, in December 1988, killing all 270 on board.

The sanctions, introduced in 1992, were lifted in April when Libya handed over two bombing suspects for trial in Europe.

"It is the interest of Europe, America, China and Japan that there be an entity called the United States of Africa. This is the historic solution for the continent," Mr. Gadhafi said.

"I once fought for national liberation at the side of Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Algeria, Palestine," he said.

"Now we can throw away the rifle and work for peace and development. This is my role," he said.

Stressing the need for roads, railways and air links between North Africa and sub-Saharan countries, Mr. Gadhafi, who once sought to unite Libya with Arab countries, said he belonged to Africa.

"Africa is my natural place. African Arabs are Africans and Arabs who live in Asia are Asians," he said.

Mr.Gadhafi said the scourge of African countries was that each one wanted to have its own armed forces.