The Latest: Putin urges more cooperation against terrorism

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — The Latest on the Group of 20 summit in Germany (all times local):

11:35 a.m.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin says Moscow will urge other nations in the Group of 20 to pool efforts more closely in the fight against terrorism.

Putin said Russia will issue a call to “jointly neutralize political, economic, social and ideological conditions allowing the expansion of terrorism.” He added that “no nation can deal with this evil on its own and offer a reliable protection to its citizens.”

Putin spoke after a meeting with the leaders of China, India, Brazil and South Africa.

The leaders of the so-called BRICS countries met just before the opening of the G-20 summit.

The Kremlin has said that Putin would also raise the need for closer anti-terror cooperation at his long-expected first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

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11:05 a.m.

Leaders of China, India, Russia, Brazil and South Africa have met on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Germany, calling for a more open global economy.

In a communique following their meeting in Hamburg early Friday, the BRICS leaders voiced support for a “rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system.”

They emphasized the need for increasing “the voice and representation” of the emerging markets and developing countries in global economic and financial institutions.

Speaking at the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke against global trade restrictions, saying that financial sanctions under political pretexts hurt mutual confidence and damaged the global economy — an apparent reference to Western sanctions against Russia.

The BRICS leaders also urged the international community to jointly work to implement the Paris climate agreement.

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10:40 a.m.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is welcoming President Donald Trump and other leaders of the Group of 20 global economic powers to a two-day summit in Hamburg.

The meeting at the city’s trade fair center opens Friday with a discussion on fighting terrorism — one of the least contentious subjects on an agenda that also includes global trade and climate.

The G-20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, France, Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman isn’t attending, and his country is represented by Ibrahim al-Assaf, the minister of state.

Also attending the summit are the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Guinea, Senegal, Singapore and Vietnam.

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9:45 a.m.

Hamburg police say they have used a water cannon to clear a blockade by protesters ahead of the opening of the Group of 20 summit.

Police said the incident happened on the banks of the Outer Alster lake, some distance from the trade fair grounds where the summit is being held, on Friday morning. They said they had repeatedly told a group of protesters to clear the road.

Officers repeatedly used water cannons, as well as pepper spray and batons, on Thursday evening amid clashes with violent protesters.

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9 a.m.

The Group of 20 summit is getting underway in Hamburg, with terrorism, global trade and climate change among the issues on the agenda as leaders gather under tight security.

The host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, says she hopes to find “compromises and answers” on a range of issues at the two-day meeting of leading economic powers opening Friday. While there’s little disagreement on fighting terrorism, prospects of finding common ground on climate change and trade look uncertain.

The meeting opens after skirmishes Thursday evening between police and violent protesters elsewhere in the port city, Germany’s second-biggest. Police said that at least 76 officers were hurt, one of whom had to be taken to a hospital with an eye injury after a firework exploded in front of him.

Source: www.apnews.com