SAVANNAH, Georgia (AP) - World leaders, looking to arm Africa with the ability to better resolve its conflicts, set themselves the goal yesterday of training 75,000 peacekeepers there and elsewhere by 2010.

The plan by the powerful Group of Eight nations is designed to better organise current efforts to develop African peacekeeping and respond to experts' predictions of a growing need for peace missions there in future. The United States aims to contribute $660 million to the effort.

In their initiative made public yesterday, the last day of their three-day summit on Sea Island, Georgia, G-8 leaders said: "The number of peace support operations throughout the world continues to grow, increasing the need for the international community to respond."

They pledged to train and "where appropriate" equip some 75,000 troops worldwide over the next five years, focusing on Africa, but also including nations elsewhere. A US official said it was the first time that the G-8 has set itself such a target.

The plan noted that G-8 nations - the United States, France, Italy, Britain, Germany, Japan, Canada and Russia - already help train and equip African peacekeepers or otherwise support peace operations. It said the European Union recently pledged euro250 million ($300 million) to assist African peacekeeping missions.

Nigeria's president Olusegun Obasanjo, one of six African leaders invited by Bush to the summit, said African nations need G-8 training and other help.

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World