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Queen Elizabeth II opens Commonwealth summit in Perth | Queen Elizabeth II opens Commonwealth summit in Perth |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Queen has opened a Commonwealth summit in Perth, amid tight security in the Australian city. | |
The 54-nation organisation - which represents some 2bn people around the globe - will discuss economic growth, climate change and human rights. | The 54-nation organisation - which represents some 2bn people around the globe - will discuss economic growth, climate change and human rights. |
There will also be a debate on reforms to the British monarchy and to the way the Commonwealth is organised to give it greater influence on world events. | There will also be a debate on reforms to the British monarchy and to the way the Commonwealth is organised to give it greater influence on world events. |
Most Commonwealth leaders are attending the two-day gathering. | Most Commonwealth leaders are attending the two-day gathering. |
However, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has pulled out without giving a reason, according to the AFP news agency. | However, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has pulled out without giving a reason, according to the AFP news agency. |
'Becoming irrelevant' | 'Becoming irrelevant' |
Thousands of police have been deployed on the streets around the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre ahead of the summit in the western Australian city. | Thousands of police have been deployed on the streets around the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre ahead of the summit in the western Australian city. |
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) are held every two years, and present an opportunity for developed and developing nations with current or former ties to Britain to discuss a range of issues. | The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) are held every two years, and present an opportunity for developed and developing nations with current or former ties to Britain to discuss a range of issues. |
But already other a number of divisive subjects have come up at this year's gathering, the BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Perth reports. | But already other a number of divisive subjects have come up at this year's gathering, the BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Perth reports. |
They include the human rights record of Sri Lanka - which is due to host the next summit - and moves to get rid of laws in some member states which discriminate against gay men and lesbians, our correspondent says. | They include the human rights record of Sri Lanka - which is due to host the next summit - and moves to get rid of laws in some member states which discriminate against gay men and lesbians, our correspondent says. |
He adds that there will also be discussions on proposals to change the laws of succession to the British throne, to give females heirs the same status as males. | He adds that there will also be discussions on proposals to change the laws of succession to the British throne, to give females heirs the same status as males. |
And the leaders will discuss a 200-page report on reforms to the Commonwealth itself, including the appointment of a commissioner for human rights. | And the leaders will discuss a 200-page report on reforms to the Commonwealth itself, including the appointment of a commissioner for human rights. |
The report says the organisation is in danger of becoming irrelevant, unless it becomes more visible on the world stage and more pro-active in global affairs. | The report says the organisation is in danger of becoming irrelevant, unless it becomes more visible on the world stage and more pro-active in global affairs. |