African leaders urge G20 powers not to forget them

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STRASBOURG, France, Nov 16 (AFP): As the world's major economic powers sought ways to reverse a looming global recession, African leaders urged them not to forget their impoverished continent as it battles the crisis.
"Africa and other developing regions of the world must be more closely associated with the discussions underway on the reform of the international financial architecture," Burkina Faso President Blaise Campaore said yesterday.
"If the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are to play a bigger role in the governance of international finance, it is fair that developing countries be more involved in the way reform is carried out," he said.
The remarks, by the head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc, came as leaders from the world's 20 largest economies met in Washington to tackle flagging growth and prevent new financial upheaval.
At the same time, several African leaders were gathered an ocean away in Strasbourg, northern France for European development day events, but were determined to be involved in any revamp of the world's financial institutions.
France, which holds the European Union's rotating presidency, has done "everything possible" to ensure that African countries other than just South Africa take part in the summit, said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
Meanwhile, the head of the anti-poverty group Action Aid urged the world's 20 largest economies not to remain an exclusive club and open its doors to poor people in places like Africa.