Bush ending G8 summit with Iraq appeal

George Bush appealed to his big-power allies on today to do more to guide Iraq’s transformation into a stable democracy, saying the “Iraqi people need help” to defend themselves, rebuild their country and hold elections.

The US president’s comments, made after a private meeting with a sceptical French President Jacques Chirac, came as the annual Group of Eight summit of big industrial powers was winding down – without Bush winning any additional commitments from summit partners for help on Iraq.

At the same time, world leaders are pledging a united effort to promote democracy and prosperity across the larger Middle East.

But that rare show of unity masks lingering discord on both that plan and, more urgently, on ways to support Iraq.

Chirac has objected to Bush’s suggestion that Nato take a greater role in Iraq.

Those differences extended into his bilateral meeting with Bush, who acknowledged past differences with the French president but told reporters, “Friends are able to discuss the future.”

Bush said he and Chirac discussed “whether or not there is a continued role for Nato” in Iraq.

“We understand the Iraqi people need help to defend themselves, to rebuild their country and, most importantly, to hold elections,” Bush said on Sea Island, Georgia.

Chirac said that, while he is “open to all discussion” on a possible role for Nato in Iraq, “I don’t think it is Nato’s purpose to intervene” in that country.

A senior administration official said Chirac had been “cautious, careful, but not negative” on the issue.

Bush aides said they expected to find some common ground before a Nato summit in Turkey this month.

The leaders of the G-8 countries – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States – were wrapping up a summit dominated by the Middle East with a session with African leaders today.

The G-8 was to endorse an initiative to attack famine. It was also to commit to training and, where necessary, equipping 75,000 peacekeepers to deal with crises in Africa and elsewhere, a US official said.

The group also endorsed a proposal to accelerate development of a vaccine for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.