Denmark says 65 leaders enrolled for climate talks

Sixty-five world leaders have confirmed they will attend next month's UN climate conference in Copenhagen which Danish officials hope will bring strong political commitment for a new treaty to combat global warming.

Though hopes of reaching a legally binding agreement have slipped into next year, Denmark 10 days ago upgraded the December 7-18 climate talks by inviting 191 heads of state and government to attend the final two days of the Copenhagen meeting to muster forces for a political deal.

The Copenhagen conference was initially for environment ministers, but now the stage is set for a summit though it remains unclear if US President Barack Obama will attend.

"To cut through the outstanding issues and make an ambitious deal... the active involvement of heads of state and government is crucial," Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told a meeting of his Liberal Party, according to a spokesman.

"That is why we are encouraged that already more than 60 heads of state and government have confirmed they will participate, and just as important that many more have also been positive," Mr Rasmussen said.

A Danish government official said the number so far was 65 but declined to provide a full list of those who had agreed to come to the Copenhagen conference, adding that Denmark would let leaders make their own announcements.

He noted, however, that some leaders, such as those of Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Japan, Indonesia and Brazil, had announced their intention to attend.