G8 Leaders Condemn London Blasts

World leaders at the G8 summit have issued a united condemnation of the attacks on London that injured many people, and killed at least two.

They said violence would not halt the summit, where talks would continue "in the interests of a better world".

It was read by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair who is travelling to London for police briefings before returning to Gleneagles this evening.

It called the blasts "an attack on civilised peoples everywhere".

Earlier, Mr Blair said it was the will of all the G8 leaders that the summit should continue in his absence.

It was "particularly barbaric" that this should occur when people are meeting to tackle poverty, he said.

Mr Blair said it was "reasonably clear" the explosions were designed to coincide with the opening of the G8.

The joint condemnation came from all the countries represented - including China, India and African states - and international agencies like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

It has now been announced that Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will chair the G8 summit while Mr Blair is in London.

Earlier, the US and UK leaders called for a new consensus on how to tackle climate change as the opening session of talks got underway.

They said it was time to replace a focus on Kyoto-style curbs on greenhouse gas emissions with research into clean technology.

President Bush said fast-developing nations must take a role, and welcomed India and China's attendance at the G8.

Along with climate issues, G8 leaders are due to discuss global trade.

With more than 10,000 police deployed, the summit is at the centre of one of the biggest security operations in UK history.

"Now is the time to get beyond the Kyoto period and develop a strategy forward that is inclusive of the developing nations," said US President George W Bush.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said there was "no point in going back over the Kyoto debate" and it was preferable to "bring people back into consensus together" on global warming.

For many protesters and observers, the G8 summit is a defining moment in current world politics, amid increased calls for the world's richest countries to act now to help the world's poorest.

Demonstrations and Live8 concerts over the last four days sought to highlight the need for action on the issues of African aid, trade and climate change.