By Madeline Chambers and Gernot Heller
HEILIGENDAMM, Germany (Reuters) - World powers on Friday pledged $60 billion to fight AIDS and other diseases ravaging Africa but development campaigners complained the Group of Eight had offered little fresh cash for the poor.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, hosting G8 leaders and heads of five African states, trumpeted the agreement as a showpiece achievement of the three-day summit, along with Thursday's deal to push for greenhouse gas emissions cuts.
"We are conscious of our obligations and want to fulfill the promises we made. And we will do that," said Merkel. "We also gave a push to the fight against AIDS," she told reporters.
Despite deals on aid and climate, cracks showed in the united front leaders tried to present, with tension between an emboldened Russia and an alarmed West never far from the surface.
Russian President Vladimir Putin refused French entreaties to accept the independence of Kosovo. He told President George W. Bush to scrap plans to put anti-missile equipment in central Europe and use Russian facilities instead.
Putin, who is due to step down next year, ended the summit by warning foreigners not to meddle in Russia's elections after hearing concern from G8 leaders about the erosion of freedoms.
British leader Tony Blair, who steps down this month, said he did not expect tension with Russia to diminish soon. London wants the suspected murderer of poisoned ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko extradited. Putin has called the request foolish.
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Heiligendamm, Germany on Thursday, June 7, 2007
G8 leaders at the 33rd G8 summit have announced a deal pledging US$60 billion in aid to Africa. The deal, to which all the leaders agreed, called "Growth and Responsibility for Africa" is a commitment to fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria on the continent. It is similar to the pledge made at the G8 at Gleneagles two years ago.

The communique says the G8 will "implement a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care" to achieve "as close as possible to universal access to treatment for all those who need it by 2010."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "We are aware of our responsibility and we will honour our commitments." 

Critics have noted, however, that the document, "Growth and Responsibility for Africa," estimates that it will "support life-saving anti-retroviral treatment through bilateral and multilateral efforts for approximately five million people." The United Nations says that 9.8 million people need such care, 7 million of whom live in Africa.

Groups advocating for Africa aid say it falls short of United Nations targets. "While lives will be saved with more money for AIDS, this represents a cap on ambition that will ultimately cost millions more lives," said Steve Cockburn of the Stop AIDS Campaign.

"Do they think we can’t read or count?" asked musician/activist Bono. "We are looking for accountable language and accountable numbers: we didn’t get them today."