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US-Russia row looms over G8 talks US-Russia row looms over G8 talks
(5 days later)
The G8 summit of major industrial nations is set to open in Germany amid a row between Washington and Moscow over a US missile defence system. The G8 summit of big industrial nations is set to open in Germany amid a growing row over a US defence system.
US President George W Bush and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have traded threats and accusations ahead of the meeting. US President George W Bush and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have traded increasingly heated threats and accusations ahead of the meeting.
Climate change is also expected to be a controversial issue. Mr Putin warns Russia will aim weapons at Europe if the US builds the shield as planned in Poland and the Czech Republic, former Soviet satellites.
European countries want a new treaty to replace the Kyoto accord with stricter limits on greenhouse gas emissions. UK leader Tony Blair says there must be a "frank discussion" about this threat.
The US, which has not signed the Kyoto Treaty, is opposed to mandatory targets. The contentious issue of climate change is also up for debate at the summit, but is presently overshadowed by the increasingly fractious relations between Moscow and Washington.
Other issues on the agenda of the summit - in the German Baltic resort of Heiligendamm - include the Middle East and the future of Kosovo. Leaders are hoping to strike a deal to tackle climate change which includes both China and the US, which has opposed mandatory targets.
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says meetings of the world's most powerful leaders are always difficult, but this one looks especially tough.
'Purely defensive''Purely defensive'
American plans to station missile defences in Europe and concerns about democracy in Russia have overshadowed the run-up to the meeting. The Czech Republic is the planned site for a radar base that will form part of the US missile defence shield, while interceptor missiles are due to be deployed in Poland.
The Czech Republic is the planned site for a radar base that will form part of the US missile defence shield.
Russia is not our enemy US President George W Bush New discord set to last Q&A: US missile defence Send us your commentsRussia is not our enemy US President George W Bush New discord set to last Q&A: US missile defence Send us your comments
Interceptor missiles are planned to be deployed in Poland. Mr Bush, who will see Mr Putin in Germany, said the new system was a "purely defensive measure, aimed not at Russia but at true threats".
Mr Bush, who is expected to meet Mr Putin in Germany, said the new system was a "purely defensive measure, aimed not at Russia but at true threats".
Speaking in the Czech Republic on the eve of the summit, the American president said the Cold War was over and Russia was not an enemy of the US.Speaking in the Czech Republic on the eve of the summit, the American president said the Cold War was over and Russia was not an enemy of the US.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to aim weapons at Europe if the system is developed. But he went on to accuse Russia of sliding backwards on democracy.
He has scoffed at US claims that the shield is designed to counter threats from states such as North Korea and Iran, suggesting it was targeting Russia. "Reforms that once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications for democratic development," he said.
In his speech, Mr Bush also focused on global democracy, saying the US friendship with Russia and China was "complex". I think behind the scenes at the G8 there will be the opportunity for people to have a frank conversation about Russia, with Russia Tony Blair class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6724727.stm">Blair 'will be frank' class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6721389.stm">Reporter's diary
In Russia, he said, "reforms that once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications for democratic development". For his part Mr Putin has scoffed at US claims that the shield is designed to counter threats from states such as North Korea and Iran, indicating that the real target was Russia.
Mr Bush also said the US disagreed with China's leaders who "believe that they can continue to open the nation's economy without also opening its political system". UK Prime Minister Tony Blair entered the debate in a BBC interview on Wednesday, saying it was not in Russia's interest to have a "scratchy" relationship with western countries.
Roadblocks London currently has its own issues with Moscow over the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.
Mr Putin has dismissed a UK extradition request for a Russian suspect as "pure foolishness".
Pushing at frontiers
Other issues on the agenda of the summit, which is taking place in the German Baltic resort of Heiligendamm, include the Middle East and the future of Kosovo, as well as the thorny subject of climate change.
European countries want a new treaty to replace the Kyoto accord with stricter limits on greenhouse gas emissions. The US, which has not ratified the Kyoto Treaty, is opposed to mandatory targets.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel must decide how far the most contentious issues can be pushed, says our correspondent.
Meanwhile, the German authorities are on alert to prevent disturbances at the summit.Meanwhile, the German authorities are on alert to prevent disturbances at the summit.
The BBC's Tristana Moore in Germany says anti-G8 campaigners are planning to block the roads leading up to the conference centre.
As Mr Bush arrived at Rostock in Germany, hundreds of protesters gathered near the airport shouting: "President Bush is not welcome here."As Mr Bush arrived at Rostock in Germany, hundreds of protesters gathered near the airport shouting: "President Bush is not welcome here."
During the weekend German riot police clashed with anti-globalisation protestors in the city. About 1,000 people were injured.During the weekend German riot police clashed with anti-globalisation protestors in the city. About 1,000 people were injured.
President Bush was quickly taken by helicopter to the summit venue.President Bush was quickly taken by helicopter to the summit venue.
The crowd soon dispersed and the latest demonstration passed off peacefully.The crowd soon dispersed and the latest demonstration passed off peacefully.