"If we conclude this round, there will be many winners. If the negotiations fail, no doubt who will be the biggest loser: Africa. We all know that. This is the reality," said Lamy.

Africa states must "alter their position in negotiations to avoid a return to deadlock," added Lamy during a visit to the African Union's headquarters in Addis Ababa for talks with trade ministers from the continent.

The WTO suspended the round in July last year after negotiators failed to reach agreement after five years of talks.

The round, launched in the Qatari capital in November 2001, is in an impasse as Western and developing countries remain split on issues such as agricultural subsidies and market access.

Developing countries want lower tariffs on their agricultural exports to US and European markets while industrialised nations seek greater access to developing and emerging nations for their industrial services and goods.

However recent bilateral talks between Lamy and senior US officials and European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson have raised hopes that a deal can be salvaged.

Discussions will also continue at a ministerial meeting on January 27 on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

The AU trade ministers are expected to adopt a common line on Doha after their talks with Lamy but the organisation's trade commissioner indicated the bloc was not willing to back down on its "just and legitimate demands".