G20 must assist poor nations as promised: UN

United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon has called on the Group of 20 (G20) nations not to use the global financial crisis as an excuse not to deliver on their promises to assist poor countries.

The G20 which groups rich nations with key emerging economies will be holding a summit in Washington this weekend to discuss the turmoil in financial markets and the declining world economy. President Kgalema Montlanthe is the only African leader invited.

Ban ki-Moon has told the media what he expects from the G20 summit: "I am going to meet a number of leaders - to discuss immediate and long term strategies addressing the global crisis."

He added: "My chief concern will be to ensure that the interest and well-being of most vulnerable nations of the world will be fully heard, we cannot allow the financial crisis in becoming an excuse for not delivering on our commitments, the need for global solidarity is more important than ever."

(Agencies)