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| World leaders meet in quake zone | World leaders meet in quake zone |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Leaders of the major industrial powers, the G8, have begun their annual summit with a working lunch in an earthquake-stricken Italian town. | |
| L'Aquila was where nearly 300 people were killed in a quake in April, and an evacuation plan is in place in case a tremor should hit during the summit. | L'Aquila was where nearly 300 people were killed in a quake in April, and an evacuation plan is in place in case a tremor should hit during the summit. |
| Security is also tight and at least 36 protesters have already been arrested. | Security is also tight and at least 36 protesters have already been arrested. |
| The leaders' agenda includes the global financial crisis, food security, climate change and Iran. | The leaders' agenda includes the global financial crisis, food security, climate change and Iran. |
| US President Barack Obama arrived on Wednesday, as did British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. | US President Barack Obama arrived on Wednesday, as did British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is also due, fresh from talks with Mr Obama in which they agreed a framework for new nuclear weapons cuts in Moscow. See a map of summit venues The leaders of France, Canada and Japan are also attending, along with EU representatives. | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is also due, fresh from talks with Mr Obama in which they agreed a framework for new nuclear weapons cuts in Moscow. See a map of summit venues The leaders of France, Canada and Japan are also attending, along with EU representatives. |
| G8 KEY ISSUES/TIMETABLE WEDNESDAY: Economy1045 GMT - leaders arrive in L'Aquila1100 GMT - first session | G8 KEY ISSUES/TIMETABLE WEDNESDAY: Economy1045 GMT - leaders arrive in L'Aquila1100 GMT - first session |
| THURSDAY: Climate ChangeBrazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, Egypt join talks1230 GMT - Junior G81300 GMT - Major Economies Forum meetingFRIDAY: International Development0630 GMT - crisis' impact on Africa with African leaders attending0830 GMT - food security1100 GMT - final news conferenceG8 members: Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, US At a glance: summit agenda Mr Berlusconi's G8 Party | THURSDAY: Climate ChangeBrazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, Egypt join talks1230 GMT - Junior G81300 GMT - Major Economies Forum meetingFRIDAY: International Development0630 GMT - crisis' impact on Africa with African leaders attending0830 GMT - food security1100 GMT - final news conferenceG8 members: Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, US At a glance: summit agenda Mr Berlusconi's G8 Party |
| But Hu Jintao, China's president, has cancelled plans to attend the summit and address G8 leaders, instead flying back to Beijing amid continuing unrest in China's western province of Xinjiang. | But Hu Jintao, China's president, has cancelled plans to attend the summit and address G8 leaders, instead flying back to Beijing amid continuing unrest in China's western province of Xinjiang. |
| Tremors predicted | Tremors predicted |
| The summit is being held at the same police barracks from where the rescue operation was run after April's earthquake, when more than 50,000 people were forced to flee their homes. | The summit is being held at the same police barracks from where the rescue operation was run after April's earthquake, when more than 50,000 people were forced to flee their homes. |
| The region has continued to suffer aftershocks, including one of magnitude 4.1 just last week. | The region has continued to suffer aftershocks, including one of magnitude 4.1 just last week. |
| A top geologist predicted there would be more tremors this week - but said the summit venue should be safe. | A top geologist predicted there would be more tremors this week - but said the summit venue should be safe. |
| Nevertheless, an evacuation plan is in place. Italian newspapers say it involves moving the leaders to tents and then flying them out by helicopter. | Nevertheless, an evacuation plan is in place. Italian newspapers say it involves moving the leaders to tents and then flying them out by helicopter. |
| Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi moved the summit to L'Aquila to show solidarity with the quake victims. | Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi moved the summit to L'Aquila to show solidarity with the quake victims. |
| He took Mrs Merkel on a tour of Onna, a nearby village almost flattened by the quake, and will take Mr Obama on a tour of L'Aquila later. | He took Mrs Merkel on a tour of Onna, a nearby village almost flattened by the quake, and will take Mr Obama on a tour of L'Aquila later. |
| He may also be hoping to use the summit to put his domestic troubles behind him. His wife has filed for divorce and he has faced myriad accusations about wild parties and relations with young women and prostitutes. | He may also be hoping to use the summit to put his domestic troubles behind him. His wife has filed for divorce and he has faced myriad accusations about wild parties and relations with young women and prostitutes. |
| Officials will be hoping for more positive headlines than when Italy hosted the G8 in Genoa in 2001. That summit was marred by violent protests and police faced charges of brutality and misconduct. | Officials will be hoping for more positive headlines than when Italy hosted the G8 in Genoa in 2001. That summit was marred by violent protests and police faced charges of brutality and misconduct. |
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| Inside the G8 nerve centre | Inside the G8 nerve centre |
| But on Tuesday, police in Rome said they had arrested 36 people after masked protesters blocked roads, threw objects and set fire to tyres. | But on Tuesday, police in Rome said they had arrested 36 people after masked protesters blocked roads, threw objects and set fire to tyres. |
| On Wednesday, dozens of protesters occupied four coal power plants in different regions of Italy, demanding tougher measures from G8 leaders in fighting climate change, Greenpeace said. | On Wednesday, dozens of protesters occupied four coal power plants in different regions of Italy, demanding tougher measures from G8 leaders in fighting climate change, Greenpeace said. |
| Big agenda | Big agenda |
| The first item on the agenda of the summit will be the global financial crisis. The credit crunch was not even envisaged at last year's summit, when concerns were considerably different - high oil and food prices and inflationary pressures. | The first item on the agenda of the summit will be the global financial crisis. The credit crunch was not even envisaged at last year's summit, when concerns were considerably different - high oil and food prices and inflationary pressures. |
| Now discussion will centre on how to avoid a repeat of the credit crunch, with regulation to force banks to hold higher capital reserves a favoured option. | Now discussion will centre on how to avoid a repeat of the credit crunch, with regulation to force banks to hold higher capital reserves a favoured option. |
| There will also be pressure to conclude new talks on global trade rules, and to avoid protectionist measures. | There will also be pressure to conclude new talks on global trade rules, and to avoid protectionist measures. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThe "global warming" myth has been completely debunked by many leading academics, yet many, politicians believe it for their own purposes.William Read, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThe "global warming" myth has been completely debunked by many leading academics, yet many, politicians believe it for their own purposes.William Read, UK Send us your comments |
| International political issues like the Iranian election aftermath, the Middle East, nuclear weapons and terrorism will also feature in discussions. | International political issues like the Iranian election aftermath, the Middle East, nuclear weapons and terrorism will also feature in discussions. |
| And the leaders will try to get closer to a new deal on climate change management ahead of a crucial meeting in Copenhagen in December. | And the leaders will try to get closer to a new deal on climate change management ahead of a crucial meeting in Copenhagen in December. |
| African leaders will join the three-day summit on Friday, to push for a new initiative to fund farming in the developing world and tackle global hunger. | African leaders will join the three-day summit on Friday, to push for a new initiative to fund farming in the developing world and tackle global hunger. |
| The financial crisis has had a severe impact in some developing countries and campaign groups say it makes it all the more important for the G8 to live up to earlier commitments to increase aid, the BBC's Andrew Walker in L'Aquila says. | The financial crisis has had a severe impact in some developing countries and campaign groups say it makes it all the more important for the G8 to live up to earlier commitments to increase aid, the BBC's Andrew Walker in L'Aquila says. |
| LOCATION OF 2009 G8 SUMMIT L' Aquila was at the epicentre of a major earthquake that hit the Italian region of Abruzzo on 6 April this year. The G8 summit is being held at the Guardia di Finanza non-commissioned officers' school. This was where the funeral of the earthquake victims took place and also the HQ of the department co-ordinating emergency work. The barracks comprise more than 50 buildings. World leaders are staying in the officers' quarters and more than 2,400 journalists are housed in a "media village". April's earthquake damaged several medieval buildings, including the church of Santa Maria di Collemaggio. A statue of the Virgin Mary and Child (pictured) recovered from the church is on display at the G8 venue among other works of art affected by the quake. | LOCATION OF 2009 G8 SUMMIT L' Aquila was at the epicentre of a major earthquake that hit the Italian region of Abruzzo on 6 April this year. The G8 summit is being held at the Guardia di Finanza non-commissioned officers' school. This was where the funeral of the earthquake victims took place and also the HQ of the department co-ordinating emergency work. The barracks comprise more than 50 buildings. World leaders are staying in the officers' quarters and more than 2,400 journalists are housed in a "media village". April's earthquake damaged several medieval buildings, including the church of Santa Maria di Collemaggio. A statue of the Virgin Mary and Child (pictured) recovered from the church is on display at the G8 venue among other works of art affected by the quake. |
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