Summit focuses on terrorism, banned weapons and economy

After winning new funds for fighting Aids, world leaders at the G8 summit turned their attention today to global problems like terrorism, nuclear proliferation and the world economy.

US President George Bush scored two victories in the opening day of talks: not only did European nations agree to match his challenge to provide billions more pounds to fight Aids, there also were signs that tensions stemming from the Iraq war had eased.

Bush and French President Jacques Chirac, who had feuded over the US-led war, went out of their way during yesterday’s sessions in the French town of Evian to put the rancour behind them.

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said he had heard Iraq mentioned only once during the day’s discussions, and only in the context that the battle had been waged successfully in only a few weeks.

“We were all focusing on the future,” Chretien said. “Everybody is concentrating on creating a mood of solidarity.”

In contrast to the harmony inside the meetings, tens of thousands of anti-globalisation protesters poured onto the streets of Geneva, across the lake from the heavily guarded summit site.

The more militant protesters battled police and looted shops and petrol stations.

Anti-riot forces hit back with tear gas, water cannon and rubber pellets in clashes lasting well into the night.

Bush was to depart after lunch today for the Middle East where he will engage in an intensive round of diplomacy, seeking support for a US-backed Israel-Palestinian peace plan.

Before leaving, Bush and the other leaders planned to discuss the Middle East as well as the worrisome state of the global economy.

The US is still struggling to emerge from its 2001 recession, with unemployment now at an eight year high. Europe and Japan are threatening to topple into new downturns.

The White House said Bush would point to his success in winning passage of a €306bn round of tax cuts.

The leaders were also to discuss their fight against terrorism. They were to release a plan for preventing terrorists from using shoulder-launched missiles to shoot down commercial jetliners.

The G8 nations represent the world’s seven wealthiest industrial countries - the US , Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada – and Russia.

They were joined for the discussions yesterday by the leaders of 11 other countries: China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, South Africa, Senegal, Algeria, Nigeria, and Egypt.

Chirac, who had used his position as chairman to invite a record number of developing country leaders to the summit, pronounced the experiment a success.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said, ”There is no way you can go back and change what happened today. I believe everyone perceived something new was going on in the relationship between the rich countries and the poor countries.”

But Bush, who will host next year’s gathering in a yet-to-be-selected US site, has made no decision on the guest list, his spokesman Ari Fleischer said. The discussions will include just the G-8 leaders today and will end tomorrow.