Bob Geldof grills Berlusconi on aid ahead of G8
ROME (Reuters) - Irish singer and anti-poverty campaigner Bob Geldof grilled Silvio Berlusconi in an interview published on Sunday, telling him Rome's failed pledges on aid put his credibility in doubt as he chairs a G8 summit this week.
"How can you lead the G8? Where is your credibility?" Geldof asked the conservative Italian Prime Minister in the interview, printed in La Stampa newspaper ahead of the July 8-10 Group of Eight summit in the central city of L'Aquila.
"Here we have the signature of a country and the honor of a man," Geldof told Berlusconi, showing him the written commitment to increase aid to Africa signed by him and his G8 colleagues at a 2005 summit in Scotland, La Stampa said.
He said Italy had cut aid instead by 400 million euros ($560 million).
"I am sorry, we made a mistake," Berlusconi responded, saying Italy's public debt mountain and the global economic crisis had forced it to cut spending.
"We are sorry we also reduced aid to Africa ... Our Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti has made a commitment to readjust in line with our undertakings within three years."
Development is one a major theme at the summit which on the final day will be broadened to include some African nations.
EMPTY PROMISES Continued...
Naked anti fur protest