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| G8 countries are under pressure over Africa and
climate change |
The G8 summit begins on Wednesday in Scotland, with debt relief,
increased aid for Africa and climate change topping the agenda.
The event, at the Gleneagles Hotel near Edinburgh, is the subject of
largest security operation in UK history.
Thousands of protestors will stage what is expected
to be a peaceful march near the summit venue
although some hope to disrupt the running of
the event.
An anti-poverty concert will be held in Edinburgh's Murrayfield
stadium.
Among those performing include Sir Bob Geldof, U2 and James Brown.
The leaders of the eight industrialised nations will start arriving at
the Scottish resort in late morning with Prime Minister Tony Blair and
President Jacques Chirac both flying in from Singapore.
The Queen will host a dinner for the leaders on Wednesday evening with
the official business of the summit beginning the following morning.
Leading up to the summit, pressure has been building on G8 nations to
reach deals on debt relief and aid for Africa, address global trade issues
and adopt a unified stance in the fight against climate change.
Agreements on 100% debt relief for African countries and a doubling aid
for the continent have already been agreed in principle with the leaders
having to put the finishing touches to the pronouncements.
However, discussions over trade liberalisation and how to tackle global
warming are likely to prove far more contentious.
The United States has played down expectations over trade and
environmental issues, President Bush saying any deal to cut farm subsidies
would only happen if the EU reformed its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Up to 5,000 anti-poverty demonstrators are expected to gather in the
town of Auchterader, near the summit venue, on Wednesday lunchtime.
A repeat of Monday's violence in the centre of Edinburgh - in which
about a thousand demonstrators were arrested - is not expected although
police are taking no chances.
Tayside chief constable John Vine said "robust action" would be taken
against anyone found breaking the law.
Thousands of people are also expected to gather in Edinburgh on
Wednesday to mark the summit's opening ahead of a concert at Murrayfield.
Sir Bob Geldof has called on a million people to congregate in the city
to show their support for Africa but estimates have put the likely turnout
at close to 250,000.
In advance of the summit, African leaders called on the G8 to "fully
embrace" a raft of anti-poverty measures.
Meeting in Libya, African Union heads of state said G8 leaders must act
quickly to cancel debt.
During the two-day meeting, G8 leaders are also expected to discuss the
global economy, rising oil prices and a range of foreign policy issues
including Iraq and the Middle East peace process.
For many, the summit is a defining moment in current world politics, as
an upswell of popular support is calling on the G8 leaders to make
fundamental changes to the way rich countries deal with poorer nations.
(BBC) | 
Updated: 2005-07-06 09:21
