Bono threatens to take to the streets in defence of world's poorest people

World leaders, take note. If you don't shape up, Bono is throwing off his suit and taking to the streets.

Get your act together, George Bush, Tony Blair and Gerhard Schröder. The schmoozing and the photo-opportunities with the world's top rock-star come with a price-tag. Do something about Africa, tackle its problems, treat its people like human beings, or else.

We knew Bono wouldn't let us down at Government Buildings yesterday. Another sombre official occasion, another grey UN report full of sad statistics and analysis, another array of serious-looking men in suits and ties.

Bono may have worn a suit, but he dispensed with the tie. And he warned that the suit could go next, along with the smiles and the handshakes. U2's lead singer is appalled at the lack of progress in eliminating poverty and disease, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

"I am ready to march with my activist friends, to begin campaigns of civil disobedience," he said. "We are about to get very noisy, we are about to bang a lot of dustbin-lids."

So it's no more Mister Nice Guy. The Taoiseach wasn't wearing kid-gloves either, making his displeasure known in blunt terms at the advance coverage of the UN's Human Development Report and the Government's aid and development record by The Irish Times.

Prof Jeffrey Sachs, who contributed to the UN report, made an unusual appeal to the media, urging them to carry the headline, "Fifteen thousand innocent people died yesterday for no reason". The story could be repeated on a daily basis, because that was the number who died each day in Africa for the lack of basic medicines. The media could even carry pictures of the deceased, as the New York Times had done with the victims of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

Those African deaths could easily be prevented if the world would show more generosity: "We are letting millions of people die every year for absolutely no reason."

It was sobering stuff. Former president Mary Robinson was there in the audience to support the cause. And of course Bono, who has clearly found what he is looking for.