Geneva - The World Health Organisation's incoming leader, alarmed by the vulnerability of children in the developing world to cigarettes, declared the protection of young people from smoking a policy priority yesterday. Ms Gro Harlem Brundtland, a physician and three-times Norwegian prime minister, said she would fight against children being drawn into smoking in the developing world for lack of legislation.
The 58-year-old grandmother, who will be elected formally tomorrow, told reporters: "Tobacco has to be fought now because the children and young people are becoming influenced now."