Bono and Bob Geldof have criticised the violence yesterday at the G8 summit in Genoa. The pair were in the city to promote the Drop The Debt campaign which is trying to cancel the debts of the world's poorest countries.

Bono was angry, saying, "Though it's okay to bang your fist on the table, it is not okay to put your fist in the face of your opponent, whether you are a protester or the police." Of yesterday's violence he said, "They destroyed a day where there was an actual dialogue going on between some African leaders and the wealthy nations."

Bob Geldof said that from the point of view of Drop The Debt it had been a successful summit, despite the activities on the streets. He said, "We have been in a series of meetings with the heads of state and their advisors for the last two days and we have been able to push our agenda of debt cancellation. In every respect, apart from the fact that our supporters are unable to exercise their civil rights and march in the streets, it has been very successful."

Violent battles in Genoa yesterday left one dead and one hundred injured. Protesters sought to disrupt the meeting between the leaders of Britain, USA, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Russia.