Tony Blair today promised to work to reform the world trade rules to help Africa lift itself out of poverty following his agreement yesterday with George Bush to lighten the continent's enormous debt burden.

The prime minister told MPs during his weekly parliamentary question time that the US president's promise to fund around $15bn (£8bn) of debt cancellation was only a part of a "comprehensive plan" dealing with aid, trade, debt, conflict resolution and good governance.

(Published: The Guardian, June 8, 2005)
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