No G8 Global Warming Breakthrough

Summit Disrupted By London Explosions

(AP)  Faryar Shirzad, a top Bush foreign policy aide, told reporters on Air Force One that final touches were being made on a G-8 declaration that that would unanimously emphasize "common ground" on climate control without detailing remaining differences. The document will state that human activity is a cause of greenhouse gases and subsequent climate change, Italian negotiator Cesare Ragaglini told reporters.

Blair, appearing resigned to failure on achieving specific emissions targets, said he hoped to get back on a path to consensus by the time Kyoto expires in 2012.

"Everybody has got their positions on the existing Kyoto and that is not going to change," he said.

President Bush brushed off a question on China's proposal to acquire U.S. oil giant Unocal, saying there was already a process in the government to review the takeover of American companies by foreign interests on the grounds of national security.

"There is a process in the United States that our government uses," said Mr. Bush.

Despite differences on global warming, President Bush predicted "a successful summit."

Blair made global warming and a massive increase of poverty relief for Africa the centerpiece issues of the 31st annual gathering of top world leaders.

Mr. Bush said the United States intended to provide help to impoverished countries nations by pushing for the elimination of the export subsidies that rich countries provide to their farmers but which depress the farm exports of poor nations.

The best way for the United States and European Union countries to rid themselves of agricultural subsidies is through the current Doha round of global trade negotiations, Bush said. A key ministerial meeting is scheduled for this December in Hong Kong.

The summit began Wednesday with a formal dinner hosted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth. Bush attended even though he suffered scrapes on his hands and arms after colliding with a local Scottish police officer while biking on rain-soaked roads around the 850-acre estate. The officer was treated for a minor ankle injury at a local hospital.

The issue of support for Africa occupied the summit's first day with Blair getting help in his lobbying effort from Irish rock star Bono and Bob Geldof, the organizer of the Live 8 concerts this past weekend. The concerts were aimed at raising public awareness of Africa's plight in hopes of giving a boost to Blair's ambitious goals.

Bono and Geldof held a series of meetings with Blair, Bush, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin to try to bolster support for African aid.

Blair wants agreement to double aid for Africa to $50 billion by 2010 and for the G-8 nations to further commit to a target of providing foreign aid equal to 0.7 percent of their economy.

"We had some very tough meetings here today, some risks being taken on both sides," Bono told reporters. "It is equally unhip, it turns out, for the politicians to be hanging out with us as it is for us to be hanging out with them."

Bono said there was no agreement yet on the $50 billion target but he held out hope that worldwide pressure would produce better offers by the time the summit concludes on Friday.

President Bush announced last week that he will seek to double Africa aid to more than $8.6 billion by 2010, but private aid groups say this included some money already pledged and would fall short by about $6 billion of the amount needed as America's share to get to the $50 billion total. President Bush has also rejected setting a 0.7 percent target for aid.