KIKWETE LEADS AFRICAN TEAM TO TALKS WITH G8

Food and oil crises, climate change and attainment of Millennium Development Goals top the agenda as African and G8 leaders meet Monday.
The African Union chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, who leads a team of seven African presidents was to arrive in Hokkaido today, a northern city in Japan hosting the three-day Group of Eight summit.
Other African leaders attending the summit are Thabo Mbeki, (South Africa), John Kufuor (Ghana), Umaru Yar'Adua (Nigeria), Abdelaziz Bouteflika (Algeria), Abdoulaye Wade (Senegal) and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
African Commission chairperson Jean Ping is also expected at the summit.
Mr Kikwete is expected to press the need for rich countries to deliver on their promises to Africa, a State House statement availed to The Citizen notes.
Food and oil crises, climate change and attainment of the Millennium Development Goal are so far the scheduled agenda for discussion when African and G8 leaders meet Monday.
Meeting in Gleneagles, Scotland three years ago, G8 leaders promised additional aid for Africa totalling $25 billion by 2010. Very little has been achieved so far.
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Critics of the G8 summit initiatives are up in arms challenging leaders of Japan, the US, UK, Italy, Russia, Canada, France and Germany to keep their pledges.
"The question we are asking is: Will the G8 be giants or jelly when it comes to keeping their commitments to Africa" said Oliver Buston, a spokesperson of ONE, a new global advocacy and campaign organisation.
In a statement, released jointly with DATA, an advocacy organisation established by U2 singer Bono, Bob Geldof and other activists here in Hokkaido yesterday, Mr Buston challenged the G8 countries to play their part. Said Mr Buston: "Some G8 countries are setting a strong example. Germany, the UK and the US are cranking up assistance to Africa." However, in general terms the G8 countries are falling short of their $25 billion pledge as just $3 billion have been delivered so far, claim the two organisations.