global warming and g-eight

A climate change standoff between Germany and the US hangs over the opening session of this year's Group of Eight (G8) summit in Germany this morning.

Seven world leaders touched down in Rostock yesterday afternoon, over 10,000 protesters succeeded in blocking access by road to the Baltic coast resort of Heiligendamm and forced organisers to bring in delegates by sea and air. This is this year's Group of Eight (G8) summit in Germany... and the main (and uncomfortable) talk should be about climate change.

The US president said he came with a "strong desire to work on a post-Kyoto Agreement" - the same one which Washington refuses to ratify.

Mr. Blair called for a "new global deal that involves all the main players including America and China" based on "a global target for a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions".

U2 front man Bono has complained of having a "huge row" with German officials and is "sceptical" about G8 leaders. He is interested in Africa - the deployment of a joint UN-African Union force in the region has been delayed by leadership rows.

As always, seems that Mother Earth is the one in the row...