Bono, Bob and the €33bn debt write-off

TWO Irish rock stars put Third World debt centre stage - and cast a cold spotlight over how countries, including Ireland, treat the world’s poorest.

Boomtown Rat Bob Geldof and U2 frontman Bono scored a major victory in precipitating the weekend move by the G8 to cancel the debts of 18 African nations.

But they were joined by aid agencies in warning that the historic step was just the first of many needed to wipe out global poverty. “It’s not just about mouthy rock stars,” said Bono, who urged no let-up in support for the Make Poverty History protest march at next month’s G8 summit in Scotland.