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G8 leaders 'make $60bn Aids deal' G8 leaders 'make $60bn Aids deal'
(about 1 hour later)
Leaders of the G8 nations have pledged to spend $60bn (£30bn) fighting Aids in Africa, an official said on the final day of the group's summit in Germany. Leaders of the G8 nations meeting in Germany have pledged to spend $60bn (£30bn) fighting Aids, malaria and tuberculosis in Africa, officials said.
The deal is to be formally announced as world leaders turn their attention to Africa to conclude the summit. The deal is to be formally announced as world leaders turn their attention to Africa, on the final day of the summit.
They are under pressure to honour aid commitments made in 2005. It is thought the US will account for half the $60bn.They are under pressure to honour aid commitments made in 2005. It is thought the US will account for half the $60bn.
Germany's development minister gave news of the pledge on state ZDF TV before talks between the G8 leaders.Germany's development minister gave news of the pledge on state ZDF TV before talks between the G8 leaders.
On Thursday, G8 leaders agreed to seek "substantial" cuts in emissions in an effort to tackle climate change. On Thursday, G8 leaders agreed to seek "substantial" cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to tackle climate change.
Meanwhile, US president George Bush was said to be suffering from a stomach complaint, and held a Friday morning meeting with France's Nicholas Sarkozy in his suite rather than in the planned conference room. Meanwhile, US president George Bush was said to be suffering from a stomach complaint, and held a Friday morning meeting with France's Nicholas Sarkozy in his suite rather than in the conference room as planned.
US officials said that the president's planned trip to Poland later was still going ahead, despite Mr Bush being "under the weather". US officials said that the president's visit to Poland later on Friday was still going ahead, despite Mr Bush being "under the weather".
'Restore faith' Limited progress
Member nations are expected to reaffirm commitments made at the 2005 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, when they pledged to double development funding by 2010. President Bush announced last month that the US would dedicate $30bn to the fight against Aids in Africa, and diplomats confirmed that would make up half of the funding announced on Friday.
Chancellor [Angela Merkel] has asked us to trust her and we are tempted, but we cannot risk being let down by the G8 again Bono Some campaigners said much of the money had already been announced, and fell short of UN targets.
Several aid agencies say the G8 has betrayed Africa by not living up to the commitments made at Gleneagles. GLENEAGLES SUMMIT 2005 G8 nations agreed to wipe the debts of 18 African countriesAnnounced $50bn boost to aid for AfricaPledged universal access to HIV drugs in Africa by 2010Committed to training 20,000 peacekeepers for AfricaVowed to work towards a new trade dealIn return, African leaders committed to democracy and good governance class="" href="/1/hi/business/5086526.stm">One year on: Progress report class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6733375.stm">Diary: On tour with Bush
"G8 leaders have just over 24 hours to restore faith in a promise that represents life or death for millions of people across the world," Stop Aids Campaign co-ordinator Steve Cockburn told Reuters news agency. "While lives will be saved with more money for Aids, this represents a cap on ambition that will ultimately cost millions more lives," said Steve Cockburn of the Stop Aids Campaign.
Celebrity campaigners such as rock stars Bono and Bob Geldof have been lobbying individual leaders at the summit, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Several aid agencies say member nations have not met the commitments they made at their 2005 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, and G8 leaders are acknowledging as much, says the BBC's James Robbins in Heiligendamm, Germany.
"The chancellor has asked us to trust her and we are tempted, but we cannot risk being let down by the G8 again," Bono said. They have now agreed to a declaration stressing their firm resolve to implement those commitments, and to keep Africa at the top of the agenda in Japan next year.
Six African leaders will attend the summit on Friday, including Nigeria's newly elected President Umaru Yar'Adua. Specifically, after much wrangling, the eight have agreed to make up the $500m shortfall in this year's spending for education in Africa, our correspondent says.
Mr Yar'Adua told BBC News he would be seeking better trade deals for Africa and increased efforts to resolve the crisis in Darfur. Most campaigners acknowledge that some progress has been made since Gleneagles.
Bono and Bob Geldof have been campaigning at the summit Writing off the debt of 18 African nations has allowed Zambia, for instance, to expand free healthcare in rural areas.
HAVE YOUR SAY We should be looking at why the G8 haven't fulfilled previous commitments rather than allowing them off the hook to make more empty promises John Brooks, Manchester, UK Send us your comments
But other commitments - like a sustained boost to aid, and the pledge to work towards a free trade deal that would remove tariffs on African exports to developed countries - have still not materialised.
Nigeria's newly elected President Umaru Yar'Adua, one of six African leaders attending the summit on Friday, told BBC News he would be seeking better trade deals for Africa and increased efforts to resolve the crisis in Darfur.
"We expect an increased partnership, increased share of free trade to African nations, an increased participation of the international community in resolving crises within the African continent - especially the Darfur crisis and the crisis in Somalia," he said."We expect an increased partnership, increased share of free trade to African nations, an increased participation of the international community in resolving crises within the African continent - especially the Darfur crisis and the crisis in Somalia," he said.
Most campaigners acknowledge that significant progress has been made since Gleneagles, says the BBC's James Robbins in Heiligendamm.
But millions of people will be hoping these talks will build on Thursday's climate change deal with another advance - this time for the poorest in Africa, says our correspondent.
'Step forward''Step forward'
On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the G8 would negotiate within a UN framework to seek a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol by the end of 2009. The focus on Africa follows Thursday's climate change deal.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the G8 would negotiate within a UN framework to seek a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol by the end of 2009.
Global greenhouse gas emissions must stop rising, followed by substantial global emission reductions G8 statement Reaction to climate deal In pictures: Anti-G8 protestsGlobal greenhouse gas emissions must stop rising, followed by substantial global emission reductions G8 statement Reaction to climate deal In pictures: Anti-G8 protests
No mandatory target was set for the emissions cuts, but Mrs Merkel's preference for a 50% cut by 2050 was included in the statement.No mandatory target was set for the emissions cuts, but Mrs Merkel's preference for a 50% cut by 2050 was included in the statement.
Developing nations should also cut emissions, the leaders agreed.Developing nations should also cut emissions, the leaders agreed.
Announcing the climate change deal, Mrs Merkel described it as a "significant and important step forward".Announcing the climate change deal, Mrs Merkel described it as a "significant and important step forward".
"We agreed... that CO2 emissions must first be stopped and then followed by substantial reductions," she said."We agreed... that CO2 emissions must first be stopped and then followed by substantial reductions," she said.
Elsewhere at the summit, US President George W Bush met Russian President Vladimir Putin against a backdrop of disagreements over US plans for missile defence.Elsewhere at the summit, US President George W Bush met Russian President Vladimir Putin against a backdrop of disagreements over US plans for missile defence.
Mr Bush said the pair had had a "constructive" meeting, in which Mr Putin suggested using a radar station in Azerbaijan instead of facilities elsewhere in Europe.Mr Bush said the pair had had a "constructive" meeting, in which Mr Putin suggested using a radar station in Azerbaijan instead of facilities elsewhere in Europe.