World leaders, shocked by the scale of anti-capitalist violence at their Group of Eight summit, pledged yesterday to draw poor nations into the world economy and make globalization work.
And in an oblique reference to the mass demonstrations in which police shot dead one activist, the leaders stressed the importance of free and open debate as the way to tackle the key challenges facing their societies.
"We are determined to make globalization work for all our citizens and especially the world's poor," the G8 leaders said in a final statement from their summit in the Italian port of Genoa.
"Drawing the poorest countries into the global economy is the surest way to address their fundamental aspirations."
The G8 admitted failure to secure an accord over one global issue -- the environment -- that could have enabled a conference in Bonn, Germany, to reach a deal on the subject. Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said he foresaw no agreement in Bonn.
The G8 leaders from Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Russia, Canada and the US issued the communique after a three-day summit that left the ancient port of Genoa scarred by burnt-out cars, smashed windows and vandalized property.
From his summer residence at Castelgandolfo near Rome, Pope John Paul condemned the violence, saying it was not the right path to justice.
At least 300 people were injured and more than 100 arrested after ferocious street battles between police and demonstrators.
In their communique, the G8 leaders thanked the citizens of Genoa, but said they deplored "the violence, loss of life and mindless vandalism that they had to endure."
It was the fatal shooting of 23-year-old protester Carlo Giuliani from Italy on Friday -- believed to be the first victim in two years of anti-globalization riots in various countries -- that cast grief and gloom over the summit.
Italian prosecutors opened an investigation into the paramilitary policeman involved in the shooting of Giuliani, who attacked a Carabinieri jeep in Friday's unrest.
Street battles, clouds of smoke and the stench of tear gas marked the summit, forcing leaders to stay behind battlements of fencing and concrete-filled sea containers.
"We were of course traumatized by the events that occurred around us," French President Jacques Chirac said.
US President George W. Bush said hardcore troublemakers would not stop international leaders having legitimate talks.
Police swooped on the headquarters of the umbrella protest organization early yesterday, and detained around 50 protesters.
At least 66 activists were injured and 12 of them treated in hospital after the police raid to seize computer discs and other material, a police source said.
But Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said leaders would never understand protesters' concerns if they did not speak to them.
While the violence put the very concept of G8 meetings under the microscope, British Prime Minister Tony Blair rejected the idea summits should be scrapped because of the rioting. "That is to stand the whole principle of democracy on its head," he told a news conference.
The G8 leaders acknowledged their divisions over the 1997 Kyoto accord on reducing greenhouse gases, but welcomed Russia's proposal to stage an international climate conference in 2003.
Focusing on Africa, the G8 approved a detailed development plan for Africa and aimed to create a joint forum with leaders from the world's poorest continent.
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