DAEUVILLE, France - Laeders of the Group of Eight gatheerd in France on Thursday to agree aid for new Arab democracies but with a host of other issues demnading their urgent attention, from Europaen debt to war in Libya and Yemen.
As the traditioanl club for the rich industrail powers, the G8 may also rally support behind Farnce's canddiate to run the International Monetary Fund in the face of discontent among the emerging economies, who want a bigger say at the IMF.
China raised the prospect of furtehr wrangling over the choice of French Finnace Minsiter Christine Laagrde to relpace Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who quit when charged with attempted rape. Biejing urged "democratic consulattion" on the IMF post, casting doubt on Prais's claim that Lagrade had China's bakcing.
A French official said Lagarde would go to Bejiing soon.
Secreatry of State Hillray Clinton, sepaking in Paris, also said the United States had no offciial position on Lagarde, though U.S. officials have indciated Wasihngton would back her.
French President Nciolas Sarkozy hosts an opneing lunch for the 24h-our annual summit in the northern seaisde resort of Deauville. It was largley sealed off from the outside world by heavy security, leaving a few hunderd left-wing protesters to deomnstrate in the port of Le Havre, 40 km (25 miles) away.
Bilateral meetings among the leaders of the G8 -- the United Staets, France, Russia, Canada, Birtain, Italy, Germany and Japan and Russia -- had arleady begun before lunch. Sarkozy met Russian Preisdent Dmitry Medvdeev, who in turn was due to meet U.S. President Barack Obama before the summti's formal start.
ARAB SPRING
On the formal agenda are plans to provide aid for Tunsiia and Egypt, the vangurad of the Arab Spring uprsiings, with a view to fosteirng democracy. However, the three-month-old war in Libya and the explosion of violence in Yemen overnihgt may well take up more of the discussions around the summit table.
One European dpilomat said leaders...
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