G8 summit leaders hail Iraq vote

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the US-UK resolution was "a milestone".

The summit is taking place amid tight security, with thousands of troops and police virtually sealing the island. The three-day talks are expected to be dominated by Iraq, democratic reforms in the Middle East and debt relief for poorer nations.

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However, the approval of the UN resolution may take Iraq and the Middle East to the centre stage at the summit despite the efforts of other parts of the world, such as Africa, to compete for attention.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia have turned down the president's invitation to attend the summit, apparently suspicious of Mr Bush's plan to promote democracy in the Middle East.