The British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, tonight insisted agreement on climate change was still possible at the G8 summit which opens on Wednesday.
Mr Straw said he believed that the meeting at Gleneagles in Scotland would achieve satisfactory outcomes on both tackling global warming and alleviating the plight of Africa.
It comes despite a warning from US President George W Bush that he will not sign up to anything which damages the US economy.
Last night Mr Bush said he would not support any Kyoto-style deal on climate change at the summit.
Speaking in an ITV interview, the president ruled out committing the US to any sort of legally binding limit on carbon emissions. Instead, Mr Bush is proposing new technologies to deal with climate change.
The US leader said the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, should not expect any special favours on climate change in return for his support over Iraq.
Edinburgh at standstill
Several hundred anti-capitalist demonstrators brought the centre of Edinburgh to a standstill this afternoon.
Police prevented them from reaching the city's financial district and sections of central Edinburgh were cordoned off for several hours.
About 30 people were arrested.
Police said they were dealing with sporadic incidents by activists intent on causing major disruption.
The massive security operation under way in the city includes police officers on horseback and some in riot gear.
Roads are closed and businesses were being advised to consider installing shuttering.
Protestors earlier blockaded the Faslane naval base in western Scotland, where Britain's nuclear-armed submarine fleet is stationed.
