Huge Protest Ahead of G8 Summit

Tens of Thousands Demonstrate In Scotland To Demand Action On Poverty

(AP)  Tens of thousands of protesters clad in white streamed through the cobbled streets of Scotland's medieval capital Saturday, demanding that the leaders of the world's richest nations act to better the lives of the poorest.

The "Make Poverty History" marchers said the world must no longer tolerate the extreme poverty that blights the lives of millions in Africa and elsewhere. They planned to form a huge human bracelet around Edinburgh later Saturday as they kick off a week of anti-poverty activism.

The marchers want to send a peaceful but powerful message to politicians gathering for the summit of the G-8 group of rich countries at the nearby Gleneagles resort next week.

"We're not here to march for charity. We are here to march for justice," said Walden Bello, of the advocacy group Focus on the Global South.

The demonstrators urged the G-8 leaders to heed Prime Minister Tony Blair's call to erase Africa's debt, pony up for a massive boost in aid and eliminate trade barriers that make it difficult for impoverished nations to sell their goods overseas.

The march coincided with the Live 8 global music marathon to raise awareness of African poverty. Hundreds of musicians were taking to 10 stages around the world Saturday in cities ranging from Johannesburg to Philadelphia, Berlin to Barrie, Canada.

There are shows in all the G-8 countries: the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and Russia, as well as in South Africa, where former President Nelson Mandela was expected to address the crowd. A tenth, all-African show was being staged in southwest England.

The atmosphere in Edinburgh was festive, with an African percussion band playing and some demonstrators wearing masks depicting the faces of G-8 leaders including President Bush, Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin.