The world's richest nations readied for talks with African leaders at expanded G8 summit negotiations on the impact of the economic crisis on its poorest continent.

The talks on the final day of a three-day summit dominated by climate change and economic woes will now shift to how rich countries intend to respond to cries for help from the world's hungry and poor.

Thousands of anti-globalisation demonstrators will also hope to turn up the heat on the industrialised powers with a protest march on the summit venue in the Italian mountain town of L'Aquila.

The anti-capitalist marchers will also tap into local frustrations about the slow progress of reconstruction after the 6 April earthquake that devastated the town, with more than 24 000 people still homeless in the area.

The protest is due to begin at the Paganica campsite outside L'Aquila at 1pm (1100 GMT).

US President Barack Obama is expected to announce an international initiative worth $15-billion to boost global food supplies, the head of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) said.

Fine dining and hunger talks

Meanwhile, Obama and the other leaders prepared for the hunger talks with a lavish dinner hosted by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, with summer truffles with aubergines, green beans and roast potatoes, cheese and a sweet pizza dessert on the menu.

The talks will see Moamer Kadhafi, leader of one-time pariah state Libya, complete his international rehabilitation. Kadhafi is here as the thrusting new chairman of the African Union, while the presidents of Algeria, Angola, Nigeria and Senegal will also join the talks.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi will join the talks in his role as head of the African development body, Nepad.

"We expect President Obama to make this announcement (Friday) and to call other G8 countries and emerging economies to support this initiative," said IFAD head Kanayo Nwanze.

He said that the United States was to contribute $3.5-billion to the overall initiative, which is to run over three years.

Nwanze welcomed the plans as a "shift from food aid which is like providing medication after the child is ill to providing assistance to help the countries themselves to put in place the right policies to be able to produce food by themselves".

Record food prices last year and ensuing riots in a number of countries have shone the spotlight of the security of the supply of food in poor countries.

Resist protectionism

Earlier Obama said the world's biggest economies had reached a "historic consensus" on cutting pollution, saying rich nations had a duty to set an example, as world leaders also agreed to shun protectionism.

At expanded sessions on Thursday, an agreement was also reached that countries should resist calls for protectionism to cushion the impact of the economic crisis.

Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Mexico and South Africa all joined the G8 on its second day, determined that Obama and his wealthy partners pick up most of the tab for solving the economic crisis and global warming.

The emerging powers, long wary of shackling their growth through limiting their carbon emissions, ultimately bowed to pressure from the industrialised world to agree a climate change target, but not without a fight.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed disappointment at the outcome, saying leaders had passed up a "unique opportunity".

As late as last week, China and India opposed ambitious reduction targets, arguing the rich world should lead the way in fighting climate change.

But according to a copy of a summit communique seen by AFP, the Major Economies Forum — the 16 countries that between them produce 80 percent of the world's greenhouse gases — has come to a deal on a target.

AFP

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