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Brown urges G20 to come together Brown and Obama 'agree on action'
(9 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has urged G20 leaders to "do whatever is necessary" to tackle an "unprecedented" global recession. Gordon Brown has said the UK and the US are united in their determination to tackle the "unprecedented" recession.
The prime minister issued his call at a joint press conference with US President Barack Obama in Downing Street ahead of Thursday's summit. At a joint news conference after two hours of talks with Barack Obama, the UK prime minister said the US president had given the world "renewed hope".
He said he was "honoured" to be working with Mr Obama and said the whole of the UK was "delighted" he was here. Mr Brown urged the G20 leaders to unite to "do whatever is necessary" to tackle the crisis at Thursday's summit.
Mr Obama said there was "enormous consensus" on what needed to be done to rescue the world economy.
The president will also meet Tory leader David Cameron and he is due to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace.The president will also meet Tory leader David Cameron and he is due to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
G20 LONDON SUMMIT World leaders will meet later this week in London to discuss measures to tackle the downturn. See our in-depth guide to the G20 summit.The G20 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the US and the EU.G20 LONDON SUMMIT World leaders will meet later this week in London to discuss measures to tackle the downturn. See our in-depth guide to the G20 summit.The G20 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the US and the EU.
Mr Obama and wife Michelle were greeted earlier in Downing Street by Gordon Brown and wife Sarah.Mr Obama and wife Michelle were greeted earlier in Downing Street by Gordon Brown and wife Sarah.
President Obama and the UK prime minister held breakfast talks as efforts continue to ensure agreement is reached at the G20 summit.President Obama and the UK prime minister held breakfast talks as efforts continue to ensure agreement is reached at the G20 summit.
Applause was audible from Downing Street staff as Mr Obama entered the building. Applause was audible from Downing Street staff as Mr Obama, who was making Britain the first country outside North America he has visited as president, entered the building.
Mr Obama landed at Stansted airport in Essex on Tuesday evening, making Britain the first country outside North America he has visited as president.
He spoke to Mr Brown by phone from Air Force One to discuss the "outstanding remaining issues" which both sides acknowledge must be settled if agreement is to be reached by the leaders of the world's biggest economies in London's Docklands on Thursday.
Tight securityTight security
Mr Brown will also hold talks at Number 10 with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, Chinese president Hu Jintao and Japanese prime minister Taro Aso as he seeks to finalise the details of the G20 communique, which has been the subject of intensive behind-the scenes negotiation over the past few weeks.Mr Brown will also hold talks at Number 10 with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, Chinese president Hu Jintao and Japanese prime minister Taro Aso as he seeks to finalise the details of the G20 communique, which has been the subject of intensive behind-the scenes negotiation over the past few weeks.
World leaders are gathering in London to discuss ways to resolve the worst financial crisis since the 1930s. The summit takes place amid tight security and police warnings of "unprecedented" levels of protest.World leaders are gathering in London to discuss ways to resolve the worst financial crisis since the 1930s. The summit takes place amid tight security and police warnings of "unprecedented" levels of protest.
Workers in London's financial district have been told to dress down and stay at home to avoid provoking demonstrators.Workers in London's financial district have been told to dress down and stay at home to avoid provoking demonstrators.
The two-day summit officially begins on Wednesday evening as the leaders from the G20, which groups the world's most powerful economies, attend a reception with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.The two-day summit officially begins on Wednesday evening as the leaders from the G20, which groups the world's most powerful economies, attend a reception with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
The G20 summit will be crucial for Gordon Brown, whose reputation for economic competence has been battered by the financial crisis.The G20 summit will be crucial for Gordon Brown, whose reputation for economic competence has been battered by the financial crisis.
He has sought to lead the drive for a global approach to the crisis and the meeting is an opportunity to restore his image as a competent economic manager.He has sought to lead the drive for a global approach to the crisis and the meeting is an opportunity to restore his image as a competent economic manager.
Dinner guestsDinner guests
But it is unlikely to be smooth sailing. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has already said France would walk out of the summit if its demands for stricter rules are not met.But it is unlikely to be smooth sailing. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has already said France would walk out of the summit if its demands for stricter rules are not met.
As Mr Brown and Mr Obama met, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told Europe 1 radio the measures currently on the table were not acceptable to either his country or Germany and that he would not tolerate "false compromises" at the summit.As Mr Brown and Mr Obama met, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told Europe 1 radio the measures currently on the table were not acceptable to either his country or Germany and that he would not tolerate "false compromises" at the summit.
Sarah Brown is hosting a dinner for the G20 spouses at 10 Downing Street, at the same time and with the same menu as the leaders' banquet at Buckingham Palace.Sarah Brown is hosting a dinner for the G20 spouses at 10 Downing Street, at the same time and with the same menu as the leaders' banquet at Buckingham Palace.
Mrs Obama will be seated between Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes.Mrs Obama will be seated between Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes.
Rowling is a longstanding Labour supporter who donated £1m to the party last year while Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly was one of London's ambassadors in the successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics.Rowling is a longstanding Labour supporter who donated £1m to the party last year while Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly was one of London's ambassadors in the successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics.
Other guests will include supermodel Naomi Campbell, Martha Lane Fox, founder of the website lastminute.com and a trustee of legal action charity Reprieve, Paralympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Bend It Like Beckham film director Gurinder Chadha, Gavin and Stacey actress actress Ruth Jones, psychologist Tanya Byron and broadcaster Emma Freud.Other guests will include supermodel Naomi Campbell, Martha Lane Fox, founder of the website lastminute.com and a trustee of legal action charity Reprieve, Paralympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Bend It Like Beckham film director Gurinder Chadha, Gavin and Stacey actress actress Ruth Jones, psychologist Tanya Byron and broadcaster Emma Freud.
The menu has been prepared by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and will feature seasonal produce including Welsh lamb, Jersey Royal new potatoes and asparagus.The menu has been prepared by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and will feature seasonal produce including Welsh lamb, Jersey Royal new potatoes and asparagus.