Bush, Blair Talk African Aid

Says Africa Aid Needs 'A Lot More' Than $674 Million Offered By Bush

(CBS/AP)  The British prime minister is expected to push for both the debt-relief plan and a stepped up effort to fight global warming when he hosts the Group of Eight summit of industrial nations in Scotland next month.

In addition to agreeing to work to forgive African debt, Bush promised to provide $674 million (euro548.64 million) for more immediate African famine relief.

The prime minister's staunch support for Bush on the Iraq war has prompted criticism of him as lacking influence and has driven down his standing among some Britons. Tuesday's talks were the first since Blair narrowly won re-election in voting that also saw his Labour Party sustain heavy losses.

Blair's support has earned him little reward from the Bush administration. Differences over Mideast peace strategy, Guantanamo Bay detentions and other issues have abounded.

The Bush administration disagrees with Blair's plan for how to finance debt relief. Blair has proposed raising some of the money by selling bonds on the world's capital markets — an approach Bush dismissed out of hand last week. Bush also opposes a British proposal that the IMF sell some of its massive gold reserves to fund increased aid.

The leaders demonstrated that their biggest differences were over global warming.

Bush didn't even mention it in his opening statement.

Blair has said that "clear and immediate action" to address rising temperatures is one of the world's most pressing priorities. But the Bush administration opposes government-mandated action, arguing there still are questions about global warming and possible causes.