Biden asks G20 protestors: “Give us a chance”

Leaders from the world’s centre-left governments have drawn their summit in Chile to a close, recognising the need for fast and concerted efforts to combat the global recession. America’s Vice-President Joe Biden warned against over-regulation, adding that there would be no instant fix.

“We are moving as rapidly as we can to change the direction of our country and our policies,” said Biden. “But we are going to have to ask, and we don’t expect to get it, but we have to ask for a little bit of patience as we move forward. To be able to do all we need to do, all at one time, is not likely.”

Brazil’s President Lula da Silva addressed what he called his friends – Britain’s Gordon Brown, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain, Joe Biden, and Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg – and said: “Unfortunately you have more responsibility, because the locomotive always has more responsibility than the carriages. Always. Those who are richer pay a slightly higher price.”

As the leaders prepared to head for the G20 summit in London, they were acutely aware of public anger around the world. In response Brown promised concrete proposals from the summit. Biden asked protestors to give the leaders a chance.

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tags: Chile