G8 Summit Preparations Set as Leaders Look to Africa Poverty, Trade & Climate

Protesters have already demonstrating ahead of the G8 Summit, which will begin tomorrow, 6th July. However, Monday saw some protests turn violent and distracted attention away from the issues surrounding the world’s eight most powerful leaders.

The organiser of Live 8, Bob Geldof, called the violent protestors "idiots" and commented that the violent scenes in Scotland so far are simply a side issue.

As the world waits for the G8 Summit to commence tomorrow in Gleneagles, Scotland, climate change, global trade, aid for Africa and debt relief are heading the agenda for the gathering.

Currently in Libya, leaders from the African continent are meeting and are reportedly planning an appeal to the G8 leaders for a full and unconditional cancellation of Africa’s debts.

The current Chairman of the African Union and President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, stated that the G8 leaders should wipe out all African debt completely.

The Libyan leader, Moammar Gaddafi, said that begging would not solve Africa's problems. In addition, Mr Gaddafi said there had to be more co-operation between rich and poor countries.

The BBC have reported some sceptical comments, however, in lead up to the summit. The South African Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel questioned the G8 leaders’ commitment to Africa as the continent did not pose any significant threat to any of the G8 countries’ futures or securities.

However, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown remained very upbeat about the summit. Brown reported that it was a chance to bring the whole world together, but he also told the BBC that campaigners may be disappointed with the final results when they are revealed.

Media have reported that breakthroughs have been made regarding debt cancellation and aid ahead of the summit, but the world is still awaiting any firm and significant progress to be made towards fair trade and climate change.

US President George Bush has said firmly that the US will absolutely reject any proposals for any such "Kyoto-style" deals on climate change, as it would have a negative effect on the US economy.

As preparations conclude for tomorrow’s summit, police have set out their plans to ensure that any protests near the site of the gathering would be peaceful. In the small town of Auchterader, lying close to the site of the G8 Summit, police have said that the march planned there will only be licensed for 5,000 people.

More than 10,000 police officers will be present for the event, which is expected to see thousands of protestors gathering in Edinburgh and at the summit venue at Gleneagles, where a five-mile long security fence has been erected.

Mr Bush has said that a deal on dropping its farm subsidies - which African States say is vital for fair trade - would only happen if the EU scrapped its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Leaders of the G8 rich nations have already begun arriving today for the three-day summit, which starts tomorrow.