Blair claims breakthrough as Bush agrees African aid rise

TONY Blair yesterday hailed a G8 breakthrough in aid to Africa - saying the United States president, George Bush, has agreed to join the European Union in doubling spending by the end of the decade.

The Prime Minister said that Japan, Canada, France, Germany and Russia have agreed to make the step-change in funding - and will formalise the move at Gleneagles next Wednesday.

But he has cooled on hopes of reaching a climate change deal - saying that the G8 leaders will leave Gleneagles without agreeing to any target or deadline. The most officials hope for now is an agreement to hold further talks.

A speech by Mr Bush in front of African leaders yesterday pledged $1.2 billion (670 million) to fight Malaria and $400 million (223 million) to help educate African women. But 10 Downing Street said his pledge goes even further.

Mr Blair's official spokesman said the US last year spent $4.3 billion (2.4 billion) on Africa, and that this would rise to $8.8 billion by the end of the decade. This went far further than the figures in the president's speech.

"We believe the increase to more than double aid to Africa by 2010 is an important and welcome step," he said - adding that it matches the increase of $25 billion called for by the government's Commission for Africa.

However, the Prime Minister seemed to abandon his earlier hopes of scoring a "Gleneagles Declaration" on climate change that would succeed Kyoto by including China and India.

"I cannot negotiate a new climate change treaty: that would be absurd," he said in an interview.