Progress on G8 aid for Africa

2005-06-08 07:30

Washington - British Prime Minster Tony Blair said Tuesday his plans to ease African debt was making good progress among G-8 leaders.

The British leader is in Washington for talks dominated by aid to Africa and global climate change. Britain is set to become the new head of the Group of Eight industrial powers.

Blair said a newly announced US famine relief plan would be only a small part of the effort to boost African development.

"We are a significant way toward a deal," on African debt relief ahead of the summit of the G-8 group of wealthy nations in Gleneagles, Scotland, next month.

"There are still issues we need to resolve, but I am increasingly hopeful we will get a good deal on that," he said.

Briefing journalists at the British embassy, Blair said a $674 million White House plan for famine relief in Ethiopia and Eritrea, being formally announced later Tuesday, was only a small step toward a $25 billion increase in African aid he hopes to secure at the summit.

"It is important we deal with the situation in Ethiopia and Eritrea, but obviously, there's a lot more that needs to be dealt with...the (Bush) administration itself has made clear that this is not the only commitment," he said.

- AP