• Issue 2

Africa was the focus of the third and final day of the G8 as the leaders agreed on a new relief package for the continent to tackle infectious diseases such as Aids, malaria and tuberculosis.

The $60 billion package was forged as German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned the G8 countries they must honour commitments to Africa made at Gleneagles, Scotland in 2005. The Chancellor also sent a strong message to African countries, saying they would have to meet strict critera to receive the aid.

The US has pledged a sum of $30 billion while the rest will be divided between the remaining seven countries. The foundations of the new African aid programme were put forward by George W. Bush almost two weeks before the summit.

A BBC correspondent also reports that all eight countries have finally agreed to fill a $500m shortfall in an education package destined for Africa.

Yet aid agencies say G8 member nations have still not honoured the commitments they made in 2005. Other pledges - like a long-term boost to aid, and a promise to forge a free trade deal to relieve African exports of high tariffs on goods to developed countries - have still not materialised, they say.

Bush missed the first few hours of business on Friday, suffering from a stomach complaint.

Image:Mike Blyth