British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the host of the summit, made a statement on behalf of the G8 leaders at the end of the final meeting. His speech was greeted with applause. The Nigerian president took the floor to address the audience on behalf of African countries.
The leaders who took part in the final meeting signed an agreement on an aid package for Africa.
The G8 leaders and the leaders of the Republic of South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria, the UN Secretary General, the World Bank chief, and the International Monetary Fund managing director posed for a photograph at the entrance to the hotel.
After that the presidents and prime ministers of Russia, Great Britain, Italy, Canada, Japan, the United States, France, Germany, and the European Commission chief stood for another photograph.
They stayed talking for a while after the session.
Several photo sessions are normally held at G8 summits as the lineup for the meetings varies as the elite club's meetings can be attended by leaders of developing and poor nations.
Yesterday, the photo session was canceled in the wake of a series of terrorist bombings in London, as Blair had to leave for London for several hours. The group photograph of the G8 leaders was to be taken on Thursday before the summit's second session.
Bilateral meetings with Blair were also cancelled.
