BRITAIN: Bob Geldof led anti-poverty campaigners yesterday in a cautious welcome to moves announced by British prime minister Tony Blair and US president George Bush on Tuesday to write off accumulated African debt.
While differences remain between the British and American approaches to next month's G8 summit in Scotland, Geldof said he was encouraged by the outcome of Mr Blair's preparatory meeting with President Bush in the White House.
"Blair went [ to Washington] and there were lots of signals saying it was all a disaster but I think the US and the UK have got an agreement on debt relief," he told the BBC.
With President Bush promising "additional" funds for debt relief, Geldof added: "With regard to doubling aid, the Americans were never going to come that far because the American economy is so bad."
In the Commons, meanwhile, Mr Blair was lending emphasis to US concerns about the need for an African response in terms of governance and accountability.
During exchanges with Conservative leader Michael Howard, the prime minister told MPs: "It is important to emphasise that what we're trying to raise at Gleneagles is the whole area of the issues that affect Africa and what we're trying to do is put together a comprehensive plan that deals with aid, debt, trade, peace-keeping and peace enforcement and conflict resolution, the main killer diseases, but also governance and action against corruption."
President Bush stressed the importance of good governance on Tuesday, saying: "Nobody wants to give money to a country that's corrupt, where leaders take money and put it in their pocket."
Mr Blair also tried to raise the pressure on G8 leaders to conclude a two-part deal to combat climate change as well as poverty. Mr Blair said he believed he could secure an agreement.