G-8 leaders unveiled a $50 billion package Friday, doubling aid to Africa in the next five years and proposing up to $9 billion to revitalize the peace process in the Middle East.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested the deadly attacks in London seemed to have united world leaders, who stood in solidarity against terror.

"We offer today this contrast with the politics of terror," said Blair, wrapping the economic summit in Gleneagles, Scotland.

"We speak today in the shadow of terrorism, but it will not obscure what we came here to achieve."

Leaders also pledged new joint efforts against terrorism in response to Thursday's bus and subway attacks in England's capital.

"We assure the people of the United Kingdom of our solidarity in the continuing struggle against terrorism," G-8 members said in a statement pledging "to bring terrorists to justice wherever they are."

Among the new anti-terrorism commitments are a promise to work together to improve rail and subway safety, and seeking a wider U.N. role in discouraging terrorism.

Africa aid

The Group of Eight nations -- the United States, Britain, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Russia -- adjourned early Friday so Blair could return to London to deal with the crisis.

But not before Blair won a key victory. With a last-minute pledge from Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the G-8 plan will push foreign aid to $50 billion annually by 2010, from the current $25 billion.

The G-8 nations also endorsed cancelling the debt of 18 of the world's poorest nations and renewed their commitment to a peacekeeping force in Africa. In return, African governments would be expected to commit to "democracy, good governance and the rule of law."

"All of this does not change the world tomorrow. It is a beginning, not an end," said Blair.

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo thanked the leaders for their "resolve not to be diverted by these terrorist acts."

"Africa has looked forward to this meeting with great expectations ... we therefore fail to understand what terrorist acts on the eve of such a momentous meeting are meant to accomplish," he said, nevertheless heralding the day's announcement as "a great success."

Blair failed, however, to get all summit countries to commit to boosting foreign aid to an amount equal to 0.7 percent of national income by 2015.

Canada is currently giving between 0.2 and 0.3 per cent of its national income to foreign aid, whereas the U.S. gives 0.16 per cent -- the smallest percentage of any G-8 country.

Prime Minister Paul Martin chuckled when he was asked about his position, as rockstar-activist Bono continues to vow to "kick his butt" over the issue.

"I'm not quite sure how I could ever react to that," the prime minister said, before insisting both he and the outspoken U2 frontman "each have a job to do."

"My job is to make sure that we achieve the 0.7, and I'm going to do that. And his job is to push me to do it as quickly as we possibly can ... He's doing his job and I'm doing mine."

Mideast peace

G-8 members also pledged up to $3 billion a year for three years -- much of it in the form of private investments -- to help energize the Palestinian economy and get the Israeli-Palestinian peace process back on track.

Blair said the pledge would help "two states: Israel and Palestine, two peoples and two religions (to) live side by side in peace."

Leaders also endorsed new trade deals and pledged universal access to AIDS treatment.

Differences persist

But on the subject of climate change, Blair conceded old arguments have yet to be settled.

"We do not hide the disagreements of the past," Blair said, as he outlined an agreement far short of the specific emission-reduction targets he had hoped to rally the holdout U.S. administration around.

Though Bush is now allowing climate change may be influenced by man-made factors, the White House would not be moved.

Instead, Blair said leaders "have agreed a process with a plan of action that will initiate a new dialogue."

Together, G-8 and developing countries will come up with a plan "to slow down and then in time to reverse the rise in harmful greenhouse gas emissions."

That discussion will get underway with a meeting in Britain on November 1.

"All of this does not change the world tomorrow," he said. "And none of it will match the same ghastly impact as the cruelty of terror.

"But it has a pride and a hope and humanity at its heart that can lift the shadow of terrorism and light the way to a better future."

Geldof buoyed by announcements

According to rocker-turned-activist Bob Geldof, anyone discounting the achievements of the concluded G-8 summit lacks "perspective."

At a press conference after meetings wrapped up on Friday, Geldof dismissed suggestions the G-8 announcements fall short of expectations.

Geldof had organized the campaign and July 2 concerts focussing attention on the Group of Eight industrialized nations' poverty agenda.

"Time only will tell if this has been historic or not," Geldof conceded. But in the same breath, he insisted the agreements represent a considerable victory.

Citing the 20 million children who will go to school as a result of the G-8 plan, Geldof said anyone minimizing the progress-to-date is simply wrong.

"Please, perspective," he intoned. "If anyone had said eight weeks ago when we decided we needed to address this to the world and collect the biggest mandate ever assembled for change ... I argued ... no, it wouldn't work."