Leaders to discuss €1.5bn aid operation

LEADERS from countries devastated by the St Stephen's Day tsunami and major donor nations are gearing up for a major conference tomorrow to iron out problems in coordinating an unprecedented €1.5 billion global relief operation.

They will also discuss an ambitious plan to set up an Indian Ocean tsunami warning system.

Asian leaders including Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi - whose nation's $500 million (€376.7m) pledge makes it the biggest single country contributor so far - are to attend the summit, along with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, World Bank President James Wolfensohn and top European Union officials.