British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush tonight warned that it was essential that anti-capitalism demonstrators are not allowed to disrupt the G8 summit in Genoa.
Following talks at the Prime Minister's residence Chequers ahead of the international gathering in Italy, both men emphasised that the measures being discussed to liberalise world trade will benefit the Third World countries the protesters said they wanted to help.
"For those who would use this opportunity to say the world should become isolationist, they are condemning those who are poor to poverty and we don't accept it," Mr Bush said.
Speaking at a joint press conference at RAF Halton, Mr Blair emphasised that they needed to get across the message just how important the G8 summit was for the developing world.
"I have no doubt that there will be people there making their protests," he said.
"But I hope they do so peacefully because the things we are discussing at this summit in terms of global trade, in terms of the developing world, are things that are of huge importance not just to the most prosperous parts of the world but also to some of the poorest countries of the world."
Both men stressed the continuing strength of the so-called "special relationship" between Britain and America.
"America and Great Britain have got a special relationship. We have both pledged to keep the relationship as special as possible," Mr Bush said.
Mr Blair added: "It is a very strong relationship, a very special one."
PA