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Russia issues warning on Syria as G8 summit begins Syria overshadows economic discussion at G8 summit
(about 3 hours later)
Leaders of the G8 nations have begun a summit in Northern Ireland set to be dominated by the conflict in Syria. Leaders of the G8 nations have begun a key summit in Northern Ireland by discussing the global economy, but the crisis in Syria continues to overshadow the agenda.
UK PM David Cameron said he hoped to find "common ground" but Russia, which has already said it opposes US plans to arm rebels, said on Monday it would not allow a no-fly zone over Syria. The first session of talks focused on economic policy, with the leaders agreeing world prospects remained weak.
The two-day summit is also expected to focus on global economic issues. But Monday evening's working dinner was set to focus on Syria.
The US and EU members of the G8 have announced that talks are to begin on a wide-ranging free trade deal. UK PM David Cameron said he hoped to find "common ground" but Russia shows no sign of altering its stance.
Mr Cameron, US President Barack Obama and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso held a press conference on the proposed EU-US deal ahead of the first session of the summit. Moscow has said it opposes US plans to arm Syria's rebels and on Monday the Russian foreign ministry said a no-fly zone over Syria would not be permitted.
Ahead of the first session, the US and EU members of the G8 announced that negotiations were to begin on a wide-ranging free trade deal.
Mr Cameron, US President Barack Obama and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso held a press conference on the proposed EU-US deal ahead of the first session.
Mr Cameron said a successful agreement would have a greater impact than all other world trade deals put together.Mr Cameron said a successful agreement would have a greater impact than all other world trade deals put together.
"This is a once-in-a-generation prize and we are determined to seize it," said Mr Cameron."This is a once-in-a-generation prize and we are determined to seize it," said Mr Cameron.
Other nations joining the UK, US and Russia for the 39th Summit of the Group of Eight (G8) in Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, are Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.Other nations joining the UK, US and Russia for the 39th Summit of the Group of Eight (G8) in Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, are Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
Mr Cameron has now officially welcomed all the leaders to Lough Erne.
Syria disagreementsSyria disagreements
The key topic of Syria is set to be discussed at the working dinner on Monday evening. The key topic of Syria was set be discussed at the working dinner, after Mr Obama had met Russian President Vladimir Putin for face-to-face talks on the sidelines.
The US said last week it was prepared to arm opposition forces, saying it had evidence that President Bashar al-Assad's forces had used chemical weapons on a "small scale".The US said last week it was prepared to arm opposition forces, saying it had evidence that President Bashar al-Assad's forces had used chemical weapons on a "small scale".
Mr Cameron, who backed the recent lifting of EU arms sanctions against the rebels, said on Monday that no decision had yet been made on whether the UK would do the same.Mr Cameron, who backed the recent lifting of EU arms sanctions against the rebels, said on Monday that no decision had yet been made on whether the UK would do the same.
But he told reporters ahead of the summit that it was right the West should be "helping, assisting and advising" the opposition.But he told reporters ahead of the summit that it was right the West should be "helping, assisting and advising" the opposition.
"We shouldn't accept what President Assad wants us to accept which is the only alternative to him is extremist terrorism. That isn't the case. That is insulting to the millions of Syrians who want a peaceful democratic future for their country and it's their side that we should be on," he said."We shouldn't accept what President Assad wants us to accept which is the only alternative to him is extremist terrorism. That isn't the case. That is insulting to the millions of Syrians who want a peaceful democratic future for their country and it's their side that we should be on," he said.
In an interview in Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Monday, Mr Assad denied that his military had used chemical weapons, and warned that arming the rebels would result in "the direct export of terrorism to Europe".In an interview in Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Monday, Mr Assad denied that his military had used chemical weapons, and warned that arming the rebels would result in "the direct export of terrorism to Europe".
"Terrorists will return to fight, equipped with extremist ideology," he said."Terrorists will return to fight, equipped with extremist ideology," he said.
After meeting Mr Cameron on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said "blood is on the hands" of both the Syrian government and the rebels in the crisis and that Russia was not breaching any laws by supplying arms to the "legitimate government of Syria". After meeting Mr Cameron on Sunday, Mr Putin said "blood is on the hands" of both the Syrian government and the rebels in the crisis and that Russia was not breaching any laws by supplying arms to the "legitimate government of Syria".
On Monday, Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said of the possibility of a no-fly zone over Syria: "I think we fundamentally would not allow this scenario."On Monday, Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said of the possibility of a no-fly zone over Syria: "I think we fundamentally would not allow this scenario."
Earlier, Mr Cameron said it was "no secret" that President Putin disagreed with the US and the EU on Syria but said he hoped they would focus on their common aims at the G8 - to deal with the humanitarian crisis and to establish a peace conference.
Two years of civil war in Syria has left an estimated 93,000 people dead.Two years of civil war in Syria has left an estimated 93,000 people dead.
Tax evasionTax evasion
President Obama, on his first visit to Northern Ireland, delivered a public address at the Waterfront Hall centre in Belfast before travelling on to Lough Erne.President Obama, on his first visit to Northern Ireland, delivered a public address at the Waterfront Hall centre in Belfast before travelling on to Lough Erne.
Mr Obama will meet Mr Putin face-to-face ahead of Monday's working dinner. Mr Obama and Mr Cameron then met Italian PM Enrico Letta, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande to discuss the EU-US free trade deal.
Earlier Mr Obama and Mr Cameron met Italian PM Enrico Letta, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande to discuss the EU-US free trade deal.
Mr Cameron said the deal "could add as much as £100bn ($157bn; 117bn euros) to the EU economy, £80bn to the US economy and as much as £85bn to the rest of the world".Mr Cameron said the deal "could add as much as £100bn ($157bn; 117bn euros) to the EU economy, £80bn to the US economy and as much as £85bn to the rest of the world".
Mr Obama said the deal was a priority for the US and he hoped that it would create an economic alliance as strong as the diplomatic and security alliances the two sides enjoyed.Mr Obama said the deal was a priority for the US and he hoped that it would create an economic alliance as strong as the diplomatic and security alliances the two sides enjoyed.
The formal talks on Monday are scheduled to cover the global economy. The formal talks on Monday covered the global economy.
In their statement after the session, the leaders said prospects remained weak but added that action in the US, Japan and eurozone had helped ease the situation.
"Downside risks in the euro area have abated over the past year, but it remains in recession.
"The US recovery is continuing and the deficit is declining rapidly in the context of a continuing need for further progress towards balanced medium-term fiscal sustainability and targeted investments to enhance growth."
On Tuesday, Mr Cameron will hope to make progress on tax transparency after agreeing a deal on the issue over the weekend with British overseas territories and Crown dependencies.On Tuesday, Mr Cameron will hope to make progress on tax transparency after agreeing a deal on the issue over the weekend with British overseas territories and Crown dependencies.
He has made no secret of his desire to tackle tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance.He has made no secret of his desire to tackle tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance.
Tuesday will also cover counter-terrorism issues.Tuesday will also cover counter-terrorism issues.
As the event started allegations were made in The Guardian newspaper on Monday, that Britain had spied on delegates who attended two G20 meetings in London in 2009.As the event started allegations were made in The Guardian newspaper on Monday, that Britain had spied on delegates who attended two G20 meetings in London in 2009.
The newspaper reported that documents, leaked by the ex-CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden, showed that British intelligence monitored the computers of foreign politicians and officials.The newspaper reported that documents, leaked by the ex-CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden, showed that British intelligence monitored the computers of foreign politicians and officials.
British spies are accused of setting up internet cafes to read delegates' email traffic and penetrating the security on officials' BlackBerrys to monitor email messages and phone calls. Targets are alleged to have included the Turkish finance minister and possibly 15 others in his party.British spies are accused of setting up internet cafes to read delegates' email traffic and penetrating the security on officials' BlackBerrys to monitor email messages and phone calls. Targets are alleged to have included the Turkish finance minister and possibly 15 others in his party.
The Turkish foreign ministry said the allegations, if true, would "constitute a scandal".The Turkish foreign ministry said the allegations, if true, would "constitute a scandal".
Observers say the revelations could cause tensions among delegates attending the G8, but Mr Cameron refused to be drawn, saying he "never comments on security and intelligence issues".Observers say the revelations could cause tensions among delegates attending the G8, but Mr Cameron refused to be drawn, saying he "never comments on security and intelligence issues".
Security in Northern Ireland is tight, as ever for the G8, which has been a magnet for protests in the past.Security in Northern Ireland is tight, as ever for the G8, which has been a magnet for protests in the past.
A four-mile (6.5km) long, 3m-high metal fence surrounds the golf resort where the summit takes place.A four-mile (6.5km) long, 3m-high metal fence surrounds the golf resort where the summit takes place.
Some 8,000 police officers are being deployed for the summit.Some 8,000 police officers are being deployed for the summit.
On Monday, up to 1,000 protesters began a march from Enniskillen to the summit site, championing a range of causes from anti-globalisation to gay rights.
The colourful parade set off it festive spirit and organisers said they did not expect any trouble.