Protesters pray ahead of G20 summit in Melbourne

Melbourne, Nov 17: Protesters today began a 60-hour prayer vigil outside the heavily-policed venue for the G20 summit in Melbourne, as aid groups claimed the US-led war on terror was soaking up global aid.

Police have locked down parts of Australia's second biggest city Melbourne to stop protesters reaching the G20 summit of finance ministers and central bankers tomorrow and Sunday.

Violent anti-globalisation protests marred a World Economic Forum in Melbourne in 2000. The Stop G-20 group plans a major rally tomorrow to try and disrupt the summit.

Church and aid groups plan three days of carnival protests begining today when ministers and bankers start arriving. Organisers say thousands of people are expected to protest.

The G20 represents 20 industrialised and developing nations, from economic powerhouses the United States and China to developing states Mexico and Indonesia, and meets annually to discuss world economics and trade.

Global economic conditions and energy security will head the agenda of the Melbourne G20 summit, with stalled world trade talks and global warming likely to also figure in talks.

The G20 Christian Collective, a small band of teachers, lawyers and church ministers, set up a prayer ''embassy'' today beside metal police barricades opposite the G20 venue.

''Discussing economic issues in isolation from the poor and the cost to the environment is a form of economic tunnel vision that must be held to account,'' said Reverend Simon Moyle.

The group plans to camp out for three days and nights, some eating only rice and water to show solidarity with the poor.

Aid groups are calling on the G20 to step up the fight against poverty, primarily through debt relief.

Australia's AID/WATCH group said that despite global aid rising, an ''excessive quantity'' of aid was tied up in conflict zones linked to the war on terror. It said a 2006 review of global aid found that of 30 billion dollars in new aid since the war on terror started, 10 billion dollars had gone to Iraq and Afghanistan.

''The annual review of international aid flows is damning in its assessment of the short sightedness of rich nations, pursuing their own security concerns through their aid expenditure,'' AID/WATCH said in a statement.

The aid group said Australia was a prime example of linking aid to security, through an interventionist policy adopted post the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

''Central to the post 9/11 development agenda is the concept of security. As Australia dons the mantle of 'regional sheriff', it has invoked the fear of failed or ''fragile'' states as justification for a newly interventionist aid policy, one that strays far from notions of human security,'' said AID/WATCH.

''Aid is now centred on good governance, law and order and military assistance, and geared to Australian strategic interests rather than to regional development priorities.''

Reuters