Copenhagen Climate Talks Stall

Talks at the Copenhagen climate summit came to a standstill yesterday as the Africa Group of Nations accused the UN chair of the conference of trying to "kill" the Kyoto Protocol treaty.

The disputes led to the loss of five hours of negotiating time, while the UN and Danish organisers were accused of sidelining developing nations by holding informal consultations with selected countries, writes the Guardian.

The tension that has run through the summit between developed and developing nations broke out again when the Africa Group of Nations and others accused the UN chair of the conference of trying to get rid of the Kyoto protocol.

Kyoto is the only legal treaty compelling rich nations to slash polluting greenhouse gas emissions.

But according to some rich countries, Kyoto makes no demand on developing countries, particularly China and India, whose carbon emissions have risen fast.