Leaders of the Group of Eight industrialised nations have wrapped up their summit in the US state of Georgia, with an agreement to extend a crucial debt-reduction scheme for the world' poorest countries.
On the last day of the summit, US President George W Bush said he was encouraged by the response of his fellow G8 leaders on assisting Iraq, but he did not expect NATO members to send more troops to the country.
Earlier, the leaders of the G8 group of countries shifted their focus onto African issues.
Presidents from six African countries - Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda – had a working lunch with their G8 counterparts.
Efforts have been made to secure agreement on a debt relief package to help lift African nations out of poverty.
The Taoiseach, who attended the G8 summit in the US State of Georgia, has said tensions in the international community over the war in Iraq are beginning to melt away.
Mr Ahern was attending the summit in his capacity as EU President.
After talks with the new interim Iraqi President, he said world leaders were now getting on with the job of helping Iraq and Iraq was determined to help itself.
