Lula and Blair push trade talks

Brazil and Britain have called for a summit of world leaders to give a decisive push to global trade liberalisation talks.

The call came after a meeting in London between the Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

At a news conference, the two said they wanted to unblock the stalled trade talks to help the poorest countries.

President Lula is on a three-day state visit to the UK.

The Brazilian leader had warned that without a generous and fair deal, conditions would deteriorate in many nations.

Differences over agricultural subsidies have stalled global trade talks.

Developing countries want rich nations to lower farming subsidies, but the US and the EU insist that poor nations must open their markets to more non-agricultural goods.

The World Trade Organization members face a 30 April deadline to agree on formulas for cutting tariffs and trade-distorting subsidies.

Mr Blair also said he had discussed with Mr Lula the killing by police of a Brazilian man in London last year.

Jean Charles de Menezes was shot on 22 July last year, when anti-terrorist officers mistakenly believed him to be a suicide bomber.

Mr Blair added he had assured the Brazilian leader that the inquiry into how it happened would reach a full conclusion.

Mr Lula said he would be meeting members of Mr de Menezes' family before he left Britain.