East African nations plan trade deal

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- East African leaders in five nations will be aiming for greater economic clout Friday when they sign a common market treaty, officials in Nairobi, Kenya, said.

The presidents of Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, meeting in Nairobi, are expected to agree to free movement of people and goods across the region, effective next July.

The East African Community, with a population of about 120 million, was launched 10 years ago by Kenya the economic heavyweight of the group, the BBC reported.