African leaders discuss economic priorities

Gordon Brown has held talks with a group of African leaders to hear about their countries’ economic needs ahead of the G20 London Summit.

Representatives of several states, including Liberia, Ethiopia and South Africa, attended the meeting in central London on Monday.

The British Prime Minister said he wanted to ensure the needs of poorer countries are tackled as part of the G20 summit, which will take place in London next month.

He added that the G20 should take action to reform international institutions, encourage global trade, counter protectionism and provide support to poor nations.

The British PM said:

“It is our duty to do everything that we can first of all to relieve the pressure people are facing as a result of the downturn - and Africa knows more about these problems than any continent in the world - and secondly to prepare ourselves to get out of the downturn by taking the right decisions for the future.

“I want us to come out of this meeting with not only a determination that every continent - and that means Africa - has its fair share of support over the next few months, but equally, that every continent feels that it can play a part in drawing up the plan for recovery.”

The meeting followed an announcement by the Department for International Development at the weekend that £200 million will be given to the Rapid Social Response Fund.

The fund, managed by the World Bank, will help those living in extreme poverty.