With Live 8, Geldof urges G8 to stamp out poverty

Charity rocker Bob Geldof yesterday announced plans for five star-studded concerts aimed at pressuring world leaders into eradicating African poverty.

Twenty years after the Live Aid sensation, the man dubbed "Saint Bob" for organising the 1985 concert to save the starving in Ethiopia wants to influence the G8 group of industrialised nations which meets in Scotland in July.

"Here we are again," Bob Geldof told a news conference in London, adding that he hoped to use the concerts "to tilt the world a little bit on in its axis in favour of the poor".

"It seemed to me that we could gather together again, but this time not for charity, but for political justice."

Five free concerts will be held on July 2 in London, Paris, Berlin, Rome and Philadelphia, organiser Harvey Goldsmith said.

The stars due to appear at the London show include Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Elton John, Madonna, Paul McCartney, REM, Scissor Sisters, Sting, Robbie Williams and U2.

The concert will coincide with a rally in Edinburgh organised by Make Poverty History, an umbrella group campaigning to cancel poor nations' debt and boost aid which plans to form a human chain around the Scottish city to raise awareness.

In 1985, Bob Geldof was shaking his collection bowl as aid agencies raced to save the dying in Ethiopia.

This time he wants to galvanise the world's richest nations into action against African poverty.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has campaigned to help Africa during Britain's presidency of the G8 this year and will host G8 leaders at a summit in Gleneagles in Scotland from July 6-8.

But campaigners fear discord between G8 nations on debt reduction and aid, combined with reluctance in Washington, will wreck Mr Blair's ambitions.

Blair will discuss a range of issues including Africa during talks with US President George Bush in Washington next week.

The campaigners also warn African schools and hospitals could receive no new money from the lavish summit, which could cost as much as £100 million to stage.

Elton John, who has his own AIDS charity, said the latest initiative would mean more to him even than Live Aid.

"I went to Africa in January and saw the situation for myself there, and saw the ignorance and stigma that people are fighting against," he said.

"He's (Bob Geldof) encouraged... musicians to really think about what they should be doing instead of playing and just driving around in flashy cars."