Djibouti's candidate for the top job at the African Union (AU), Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, says that priority should be given to "peace and security" on the continent in an interview with AFP. "It is very important that the new Commission should give priority to these issues of peace and security, because if we are to move towards economic integration, develop the social sectors and above all implement all the components of the continental free trade area, we have to start with peace and security," says Youssouf, Djibouti's long-serving foreign minister, who is competing for the chairmanship of the AU commission with Raila Odinga of Kenya and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar, after the other candidate, Anil Kumarsingh Gayan from Mauritius windrew from the race, the AU said earlier this week. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES