G8 leaders back away from CO2 pledges

LEADERS of the world’s industrialised powers warned yesterday that the global economy remains in danger and backed away from pledges on global warming as they started their annual summit.

The build-up to the Group of Eight gathering in L’Aquila, which was devastated by an earthquake less than 100 days ago, was overshadowed by turmoil in China which prompted President Hu Jintao to hurry back to Beijing.