London G20 Live: As-it-happened
The G20 summit has begun in London's Docklands
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Thursday, 02, Apr 2009 08:34
Relive as-it-happened coverage of the events occurring at the G20 summit and the protests around London.
(All times BST)
19:45 - President Obama departs to warm applause and journalists traipse out of the briefing room.
With the president's words the summit is all but over. Thanks for following our live updates over the last two days. inthenews.co.uk will be bringing you in depth analysis and comment from our correspondents at the G20 over the coming days.
19:33 - Obama: "My colleagues at the G20 were extraordinary gracious about my participation and expressed a desire to continue to work with America.
"There were occasional comments that indicated from their perspective that this started in the US, on Wall Street. Perhaps what helped was my willingness to acknowledge that some of this did start on Wall Street.
"We had a number of firms that took wild, and unjustified risks, we had regulators who were asleep at the switch, and it has taken a tremendous affect on the US economy and spread to the world economy. But if you look at European and Asian banks, they had their own issues also.
"We've had constructive discussions and given global financial flow, unless we have more effective regulation, supervision, and standards, these problems will appear again.
"Money can move around the world in a second and will seek out the highest return, if those returns are built on a house of cards we will see another global recession, no matter where that house of cards is built.
"I'm excited about helping building a model of growth, and end the cycle of bubble and bust."
19:29 - Obama turns on the charm with an Indian reporter who seems to take credit for the election of prime minister Manmohan Singh.
Reporter: How will the States help India tackle terrorism in Pakistan?
Obama: "We discussed terrorism. We are very concerned about terrorists who have made camp in the border regions of Pakistan as well as Afghanistan. But we also spoke broadly on the issues of counter-terrorism."
19:27 - Obama: "In a world as complex as it is, it's my aim to forge partnerships as opposed to dictating solutions."
19:17 - Taking on the US theme again, Obama: "It is my responsibility to lead America into recognising that its interest, its fate, is tied up with the wider world.
"If we neglect or abandon those who are suffering in poverty not only are we missing out on future potential markets, but that despair may turn to violence which turns on us.
"Unless we are concerned about the education of all children, not just our own, we may make people around the world susceptible to anti-American propaganda.
"If I'm effective, part of that is providing Americans with insight into how their interests are tied up with yours [referring to Chinese journalist].
"There are times where short-term interests will clash, protectionism is an example."
19:14 - Obama: "In life there are no guarantees and in economics there are no guarantees. So there are always risks involved, but I have no doubt the steps we have taken are critical in preventing us from slipping further into recession. They will have a concrete effect individually to the nations to create jobs, save jobs that exist, grow the economy, free up credit and restore trust in the financial markets.
"The steps were necessary, whether they were sufficient, we will have to wait and see."
19:05 - Obama: "This is the turning point in the pursuit of economic recovery."
19:00 - Obama: "There is no doubt each country has its own particular issues that a leader may decide is really really important.
"What we tried to do is accommodate those issues in a way that did not hamper the effectiveness of the overall response to the crisis.
"This kind of coordination really is historic, if you had imagined 20, 30 or 40 years ago that China, Russia, a US president called Obama, and in some cases mortal enemies, negotiating this quickly, you would have said its crazy.
"And it was done with relative few hiccups and that's due to the collective work of Gordon Brown and his team. But this alone is not enough, what we do in our own countries is essential in preventing the kind of financial crisis we have seen.
18:57 - Obama has clearly got one eye on what the folks back in the States will be thinking about events in London and has made regular references to the problems back in the US.
18:54 - Obama: "The challenges of 21st century can't be met without collective responsibility. I am committed to forging a consensus and not dictating our terms. I believe a new era of responsibility should not end at our borders.
18:50 - "It's hard for the heads of 20 different states to bridge their differences. But our citizens are hurting, they all needs us to come together.
"I believe this is just the beginning. Our problems will not be solved in one or two meetings.
18:49 - Obama: "Together we must put an end to bubble and bust and end excessive risk taking.
"To prevent future crisis, we agreed to extend supervision and transparency. We will take actions to defend our financial system.
"Finally, we are protecting those who don't always have a voice but have been affected by this crisis.
18:47 - Obama: "We are committed to growth and job creation. All nations have acted to stimulate demand.
"We have agreed on bold action to support to developing nations. Together the G20 is tripling the IMF lending capacity.
"This agreement marks our support for open markets.
18:43 - US president Barack Obama addressing reporters:
"I believe this will be a turning point in our pursuit of recovery
"The London summit is historic - due to the challenges we face and the magnitude of our response.
"So many have lost so much and we owe it to all of our citizens to act and act with urgency. The whole world has been touched by this devastating downturn."
18:42 - Obama press conference three minutes away....hopefully.
18:33 - The Met have confirmed there have been 32 arrests so far today, bringing the total for the last two days up to 122.
18:30 - Still no sign of Mr Obama, although we're promised his briefing is expected soon.
18:00 - The queue to get into Barack Obama's press conference is now the length of the Excel centre, our correspondent reports.
Mr Obama is due to give a briefing at 18:15.
17:28 - A Wordle of the G20 communique. Financial, support and agreed (should it be 'greed'?) loom large.
17:15 - A flurry of briefings by world leaders, with President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel presenting their version of the G20 communique to journalists.
The International Monetary Fund's Dominic Strauss-Kahn, the leaders of Canada, Spain, South Africa and India will all take to individual briefing rooms in the next hour.
At 17:45 it is the turn of Barack Obama. inthenews.co.uk will be trying to get front row seats for what is sure to be a packed room.
16:18 - The new $1 trillion for the World Bank and the IMF represents "new money", Gordon Brown maintains.
16:16 - The G20 leaders are planning to hold another summit later this year, the British prime minister explains.
16:10 - Gordon Brown: "Today the world's largest nations have agreed a global plan for economy recovery.
"We have agreed on the biggest fiscal stimulus in history, the biggest increase in resources with $250 billion for trade finances.
"We have agreed a common approach to cleaning up the banks, to restoring lending, we are in a deep process of reform and we have maintained commitments to the world's poorest."
15:41 - Brown: "We have agreed to act decisively to kick-start international trade. We are agreed to work urgently to agree a conclusion to the Doha trade round.
"We will make available $250 billion of trade finance over the next two years."
15:40 - Brown: "The G20 has agreed the implementation of the largest macroeconomic stimulus the world has ever seen. There has been an injection of $5 trillion into our economies.
"And we have agreed there will now be additional resources of $1 trillion made available through the IMF.
"We will work to provide a greater voice and representation for emerging nations."
15:39 - Brown: "We have agreed there will be an end to tax havens that do not comply."
"We have agreed bringing shadow banking, including hedge funds, within the global regulation net.
"This is the start of the end for tax havens not abiding by the rules."
15:38 - Gordon Brown: "This is the day the world came together to fight back against the global recession.
"Our message is clear and certain, global problems need global solutions. Trade once must again become an engine of growth.
"We take global action together to face the problems we face. We must take essential action to rebuild confidence."
15:30 - Another update from the Metropolitan police confirms 111 people have now been arrested in connection with protests yesterday and today.
15:30 - Reporters have started gathering at the Excel centre for Gordon Brown's press conference following the conclusion of this afternoon's discussions.
15:18 - Unconfirmed reports suggest the G20 leaders have agreed to pledge $1.1 trillion to the IMF and the World Bank.
15:08 - Gordon Brown speaking earlier: "I believe we can reach big and important conclusions."
15:00: Claire Melamed, head of policy at ActionAid, spoke to our correspondent about the potential outcome of the summit:
14:43: There hasn't been much coverage of 'special drawing rights', or SDRs, in the run-up to this summit. But sources are suggesting these will have major significance in the communique. The ides is they inject signfiicant extra liquidity into the world economy by allowing developing countries to exchange their SDRs for access to the IMF's dollar, gold etc reserves. There are $20 billion of SDRs in circulation at the moment; that amount could be significantly increased by the end of today.
14:35 - The Met have confirmed four people have been arrested in connection with yesterday's protests.
Two were detained for violent disorder and two for the possession of an offensive weapon.
14:30 - Talks are due to come to an end at 15:00 and Gordon Brown is expected to give his press conference at 15:30.
14:28: The G20 summit will give "momentum" to efforts to reach a global deal on climate change, Ed Miliband has said. The energy and climate change secretary was in upbeat mood as he briefed media this afternoon. He said he expected the communiqué would not forget the need for action on the environment.
"What the G20 summit shows is there is an understanding among world leaders that the economic crisis and the environmental crisis can be tackled together," Miliband said.
"The very fact this has been part of the discussion will give us what I think is the most important commodity - momentum."
He expects countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia, which have been hesitant to commit to low-carbon economies in the past, would attach importance to renewables.
"The notion of low-carbon as a way out of recession has gone from being marginal to being mainstream," he added.
"I think the world is changing very significantly."
14:10 - The BBC reports there are around 500 protestors outside the Excel centre, most of whom appear to be complaining about human rights violations in Ethiopia.
13:23 - World leaders are closing in on agreement at ExCel. inthenews.co.uk understands that significant progress on international financial institution is set to be announced.
Tax-havens and protectionist-leaning countries face pariah status, while the IMF is set to have its funds double to $500 billion.
Special drawing rights at the IMF, which are made available to economies in trouble, are set to be raised to $250 billion.
Among the remaining issues to be ironed out are contributions to the IMF and bankers' pay.
13:05 The Metropolitan police have just released an update on arrests made this afternoon, in connection with yesterday's protests.
"At 12:20 today, officers went to two addresses that police believe are being used as 'squats' by some of those people involved in the violent disorder yesterday.
"One address had around 20 people inside it. They will be detained on suspicion of violent disorder but released immediately if they are not of interest to police. Officers are at the addresses acting on information about people wanted.
"The other address had about 60 people inside.
"The Met will continue to investigate those who may be outstanding from the violence and disorder yesterday."
12:49 French free-climber Alain Robert has climbed the Lloyds building in the City and unveiled a G20 protest banner.
Footage shows Robert climbing up the side of the building, however, it's unclear where the Frenchman is now and if the police chose to arrest him.
12:38 Money has been pledged to help get global trade moving, $200 billion of trade credit being is being promised, reports suggest.
12:25 - Chancellor Alistair Darling still seems confident results can be secured on tax havens, which delegates are discussing as we speak.
"There have been a number of countries coming forward who are saying 'OK, we are now ready to sign up to tax haven agreements'," he tells the BBC.
12:11 - The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an investigation into the death of man at one of the protests yesterday.
The IPCC claims it has received a referral from the Metropolitan police and City of London police force in relation to an incident, where a man was found collapsed.
"IPCC investigators will be assessing the circumstances throughout the day. They will be examining CCTV and attending the post-mortem this afternoon, as is usual in cases of this nature," a statement declares.
11:41 - inthenews.co.uk understands that countries who revert to protectionism during the economic slowdown will be 'named and shamed' under the G20 communique being hammered out at ExCel.
11:25 - As part of today's talks, the International Monetary Fund is set to get its funding increased by between $250 billion and $500 billion.
11:07 - From both a development and economic perspective, the UK government is determined to crackdown on tax-havens. Ministers tell inthenews.co.uk that this is not merely a smoke-screen to avoid scrutiny of favourable tax rates on both sides of the Atlantic.
11:20 - Bob Geldof has spoken to reporters at the summit about free trade.
10:52 - Gordon Brown makes his opening statement, and calls for a strengthening of financial institutions and declares a decision has been made to oppose protectionism.
10:50 - The heads of state have now all sat down and Gordon Brown, sat between Barack Obama and Alistair Darling, looks ready to get down to business.
10:45 - In a moment of down-time, our correspondents discuss their G20 experience so far.
10:30 - The G20 leaders gather for their group photo call.
10:00 - Business secretary Peter Mandelson has hinted substantial resources are to be devoted to international trade following the summit.
The former European Union trade commissioner said "a lot of progress" had been achieved at the Doha trade round in the last four years.
Speaking to reporters at the G20 summit in London, he said the trade round would "resume again" and lead to "final eventual success".
"We will see today the commitment being made," he predicted.
09:40 - Police claim they expect further protests throughout today and reports claim demonstrators have started gathering outside the Excel centre.
08:040 - Video footage from Wednesday's protest:
Yesterday evening:
Yesterday afternoon:
Thursday 03:00 - The Met confirm 86 people have been arrested so far.
22:00 - Stop the War protestors speaking earlier in the day at Trafalgar Square:
Martin Crook:
Chris Holden:
21:00 - Protestors are finally being allowed out of the City, including our correspondent. Hundreds remain, however, while demonstrators at the climate camp at Bishopsgate expect to remain in place until tomorrow lunchtime.
While our live text for today's protests is over, inthenews.co.uk is attending tomorrow's G20 summit at ExCel and will be reporting live from the scene.
20:15 - From the Bank of England protests: "Police are now letting people go one-by-one," our correspondent reports.
"The mood is boisterous among the several hundred remaining in the City."
19:06 - From the Bank of England protests: Effigies of bankers are being set alight by protestors stuck in the City who are now "cold and tired" according to our correspondent.
Police are checking video footage in order to make any arrests before allowing anyone to leave. Thirty-two arrests have been carried out so far.
18:51 - From the Bank of England protests: Scotland Yard have released a fresh statement about the remaining protestors at the City.
"Police implemented a series of cordons due to high levels of violence against officers in isolated incidents, and the intelligence available to police about small groups of protestors, intent on violence, mixed in the crowd of lawful demonstrators.
"From mid-afternoon this became a containment in order to prevent groups from being able to further damage property, attack police and cause widespread disruption through breaking into splinter groups, making it harder for police to deal with them.
"Portaloos and water were made available.
"Police are now working towards a controlled dispersal, where groups of people will be allowed to leave.
"Officers will be looking to identify those who may have been involved in crimes earlier. Full CCTV and footage from evidence gatherers will be reviewed. Two people were arrested for aggravated burglary at the Royal Bank of Scotland."
18:45 - From the Bank of England protest: 18:45 - The Metropolitan police have just held a press briefing confirming there were between 4,000 and 5,000 protestors at the City at the peak of the demonstration.
In total 5,000 officers were deployed across London, Commander Simon O'Brien said, admitting the police were "in no way confident that this is in any way over"
The Met claims at times through the day "juvenile and puerile behaviour escalated into quite provocative behaviour".
Three plate glass windows were confirmed to have been broken at RBS, with protestors entering into the building and attempting to steal things
18:30 - From the Bank of England protest:
"Police have formed a sterile zone around the first line of riot police.
"So there is a small group of demonstrators trapped around the Bank of England. Then 100m away there is a second line of officers blocking off all entrances to the square.
"There really is no way in or out, regardless of media accreditation."
17:56 - From Bishopsgate: Our correspondent spoke to activists at the Climate Camp.
Kerstin Twachtmann, 27, digital youth co-ordinator, ActionAid UK
Sian McLachlan, 25, digital content producer, ActionAid UK
Bjorn Twachtmann, 30, web developer
17:52: Still no sign of an end to the protest in the City. Our correspondent has spoken to at least one demonstrator struck over the head with a police baton.
Jack Bright said he stepped in to help a friend who had been hit and was struck in the head by the same policeman twice before his friends dragged him back.
17:50: Another update from Scotland Yard. There have been 24 arrests so far today.
- 1 x possession of class A drug
- 11 x possession of police uniform
- 1 x in connection with threatening behaviour
- 3 x violent disorder
- 1 x obstruction of highway
- 2 x breach of the peace
- 2 x section 5 Public Order Act
- 1 x criminal damage
- 2 x aggravated burglary on RBS building
17:00 - German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy are holding a joint press conference in central London.
The Euro duo are emerging as major fiscal spending foes of new best friends Obama and Brown.
"This isn't about temper tantrums," President Sarkozy said according to a BBC translation in reference to reports he would walk out of the summit if he found the communique impossible to stomach.
"Regulation isn't just a word," Merkel added.
16:55 - From Bishopsgate: "There is a really relaxed atmosphere; people coming and going as they like.
"People are on top of bus sops and up lampposts. There are banners and slogan spattered tents everywhere."
16:45 - From the Bank of England protest: "Police are pushing protestors down Queen Victoria street away from HSBC.
"There are people covered in blood and the police are being quite aggressive."
16:37 - From the Bank of England protest: "Riot police are pushing people back towards the demo from the corner of Mansion Street.
"The police are dressed in black and are very imposing."
16:25 - From Bishopsgate: "Police have blocked all minor roads off Bishopsgate, leaving a tunnel of protestors only able to enter or leave at the top and bottom of Bishopsgate."
16:15 - From Bishopsgate: "In full suit and tie Horatio Jimenez cuts an unusually strange figure among the fluorescent wigs and fancy-dressed protestors.
"The former project manager for Deutsche Bank got out of banking last June, and says it was the best decision he ever made. 'They have a lot to answer for,' he said. 'They are greedy. Bankers have no decency.'"
16:04 - From the Bank of England protest: Professor Chris Knight, an expert in anthropology at the University of East London for 20 years before being suspended last week for inciting criminal action against bankers is among the protestors.
"We've won the revolution," he told our correspondent.
"If nobody believes in the government it doesn't exist."
15:40 - From the Bank of England protest: "Police have made a big push down Queen Victoria Street, previously the crowds were outside HSBC when all the staff outside HSBC were inside looking out of the window. Crowd started shouting 'shame on you'. They're shouting it now.
"The police made a big push down Queen Victoria Street; everyone ran away. From what I can tell they're just trying to separate all the groups around this junction. There's been a standoff here now for about the last hour.
"Bottles are being thrown. One just narrowly missed a demonstrator. The police line is surrounded on both sides by a lot of demonstrators. It's unclear whether they will be able to maintain that line."
15:39 - From Trafalgar Square: The Stop the War march is heading towards Trafalgar Square from the American embassy. 'Give peace a chance' is the message.
15:37 - Update from the Metropolitan police. Twenty-three arrests have so far been carried out, including four from last night.
The breakdown of the arrests is:
- 11 in connection with possession of police uniform
- One in connection with threatening behaviour
- Two for violent disorder
- One for obstruction of a highway
- Two for breach of the peace
- One for indecency
- One for possession of class A drugs
- Three for possession of points and blades
- One for assault
15:30: From ExCel: Our correspondent spoke to more protestors.
Angel, 30-year-old housewife seeking employment
Nick Haines, 22-year-old student
Phil Thornhill, 49-year-old national coordinator for the Campaign Against Climate Change
15:07 - From Bishopsgate: "Two legal observers, who advise those who get arrested on their rights and try to act as a preventative to police violence, said so far police and protestors were managing a sort of truce, albeit an uneasy one. But they fear that will be broken later once the city clears of office workers."
14:57 - From the Bank of England protest: "It's all gone a little bit crazy.
"On the corner of Queen Victoria Street and Queen Street riot police started pushing people around.
"An impromptu march started and the police panicked and started pushing the protestors back and managed to separate two groups of demonstrators.
"There are hundreds of officers in one big block."
14:45 - From the Bank of England protest: "The police line has completely broken down.
"The different protests have joined together and demonstrators are being pushed back as police attempt regain control.
"A man just got punched in the face by a police officer as protestors continue to try and break the line."
14:44 - Today's protests are causing travel disruption across London. Our correspondent reports that Bank station has been closed due to "police operations".
Click here to stay up to date with all the latest travel updates
14:05 - From the Bank of England protest: Police officers enter the Royal Bank of Scotland in support of building security.
14:04 - From the US embassy: The Stop the War march begins.
14:03 - From the Bank of England protest: - "An anarchist wearing a black balaclava and a black hooded top has shimmied up a column near the Bank of England and erected a number of banners, while around 1,000 protestors watch on.
"Edgy and nervous security guards look on, not sure what he's going to do next."
13:50 - From the Bank of England protest: "Riot police have now arrived, with blue helmets and truncheons.
"They're standing behind the regular police officers."
Windows are being smashed at the Royal Bank of Scotland.
13:55 - From the Bank of England protest: A statement from the Metropolitan police reads: "Officers are being deployed in protective equipment following earlier missiles being thrown and injuries to officers."
"We are aware of reports of people breaking the windows of the Royal Bank of Scotland."
13:43 - From Bishopsgate: "A series of fights broke out between protestors and police. The police won't comment on the number of people arrested so far, but one man was taken away, vomiting."
13:35 - From Bishopsgate: "A small group of protestors have broken off from the main tented area and are clashing with police over attempts by the protestors to take over a still open road," our correspondent reports.
"After a minor scuffle the police have now moved on to jeers from the mainly young crowd."
13:25 - From ExCel: Our correspondent spoke to climate change protestors earlier today.
13:19 - From Bishopsgate: Our correspondent reports: "A whisper goes up in the crowd to keep moving to counter attempts by police to kettle protestors in."
13:13 - Underlining how quickly the mood of the protest can change, a policeman is set upon by demonstrators and at least one protestor struck in the face.
From the Bank of England protest: "Someone got punched in the face... it looked like a girl. A police officer in a bubble in was set upon. His colleagues rushed forwards to hold back the crowd... about 20 to 25 policemen totally surrounded demonstrators.
"The situation now seems to have calmed down."
13:12 - From the Bank of England protest: "Protestors are telling police officers at the front of the line that they are breaching their human rights by keeping them in one place.
"Several officers have told demonstrators they do not agree with the tactics being employed.
"Police are still talking to demonstrators."
13:11 - From Bishopsgate: "Climate camp protestors have pitched their tents in Bishopsgate," our correspondent reports.
"Tents of all shapes and sizes have taken the place of cars this afternoon as climate activists take to the streets ahead of tomorrow's G20 summit.
"A samba band leads the musical accompaniment with low-fi 80s stereos blasting out crackly betas. The carnival atmosphere is only broken when a column of police pass by."
12:59 - Update from Scotland Yard. Police have estimated there are currently in the region of 3,000 to 4,000 people at the Bank of England.
At around 10:00 BST officers in Bishopsgate gate area stopped an armoured vehicle under the Road Traffic Act.
So far 11 people have been arrested for being in possession of police uniform.
12:53 - From the Bank of England protest: People now want to get out, there is an element of growing irritation, our correspondent reports.
"People are claiming they are being denied their right to peacefully protest."
12:34 - "We are now completely blocked off... stopped from getting in and getting out."
Father Keith Smith, a vicar from West Suffolk, when asked why he was here, told our correspondent: "I am disgusted with the way the government is no longer backing the climate change agenda.
"The most vulnerable people in the world will suffer more, just so we can get some of the richest people in the world back to what they're used to... And I consider myself one of the richer people in the world by the way."
12:22 - From the Bank of England protest: The mood is still OK; police are forming a border around edge of the protest.
"It doesn't look like it's going to stay that way."
Whenever businessmen or bankers look down from their windows they are greeted with cries of "jump", our correspondent reports.
12:05 - From the Bank of England protest: There is a very mixed crowd outside the Bank of England, our correspondent reports.
"There are communists brandishing red hammer and sickle flags, anarchists dressed entirely in black, lots of ordinary members of the public and elderly people protesting against the economy."
11:59 - From the Bank of England protest: Our correspondent spots Russell Brand among the protestors.
Andy, a former IT worker among the protestors, told our correspondent: "We're not all anti-capitalists or anarchists.
"We're just over 50, out of work and living on our savings. And I can't get a job for love or money."
11:55 - From ExCel - Extremely quiet. Police told our correspondent they did not expect major protests at the site of tomorrow's G20 summit.
"There are five people in boiler suits and others building an ice sculpture but that's it."
11:50 - From Canary Wharf - "Officers are swabbing drivers' fingers for explosive residue," our correspondent reports.
11:40 - From the Bank of England protest: A group of hardcore protestors from the Black Bloc have joined the demonstration, diving into the sterile zone between two marches.
Slightly bemused-looking bankers looking down from their offices around the Bank of England have been waving notes from their wallets, our correspondent reports.
11:24 - From the Liverpool Street protest: The party atmosphere has faded slightly already.
From our correspondent: "Minor scuffles have broken out as police attempt to hold the line as the delegation heads to the Bank of England.
"There are at least 1,500 people here."
11:19 From the Liverpool Street protest: The crowd has left the station going towards the Bank of England.
"The crowd is good natured... there is a party atmosphere with a minimal police presence," our correspondent writes.
11:04 - Typical tourist Obama says what he loves about Britain is the Queen.
10:50 - As Obama and Brown continue their press conference, the first arrests of the day. Six people have reportedly been detained after police stopped their armoured vehicle.
10:35 - Obama on Sarkozy's threat to walk out: 'Similar contentions have existed in the past.'
10:28 - President Obama: "We have a choice... every nation which is here has a stake in the other... we can make real and unprecedented progress."
10:24 - "We're not going to agree on every point... I came here to listen not to lecture," President Obama says, nevertheless urging world leaders not to miss out on the opportunity this week's summit represents.
10:20 - President Obama takes to the microphone... he comments on the weather and discussions about dinosaurs with the Browns' children.
The president says Brown should be congratulated on his role on the world economic stage.
10:19 - Talk of a new global deal is absent from the PM's opening statement. He instead has widened the G20 agenda to include Millennium Development Goals and climate change.
"We share a personal friendship," Brown concludes.
10:15 - Brown and Obama begin their press conference. Brown says Obama has "renewed hope" around the world. Brown is in full praiseworthy-mode.
"Our first duty is to those suffering the most," the PM continues.
08:25 - Protestors have begun assembling in the City. The Metropolitan police have cancelled all leave for the next two days, meaning a total of 10,500 officer shifts are being used.
Click here for a map of all today's G20-related events
The England v Ukraine World Cup qualifier at Wembley later tonight means today will be one of the busiest in the force's recent history.
08:15 - French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela Merkel are holding a joint press conference later today to underline their objections to countries spending their way out of the recession.
President Sarkozy has threatened to walk out of the summit tomorrow over the issue.
08:00 - President Obama arrives at No 10. The president, the first lady, Gordon and Sarah Brown are having breakfast before talks with the two leaders.
A joint press conference with the two men is scheduled for 10:00.
07:30 - The Pope has written personally to Gordon Brown not to forget the world's poor as international leaders attempt to drag their economies out of the recession.
Click here to read the prime minister's reply
07:00 As world leaders assemble in London for the G20 summit a host of simultaneous protests are due to take place.
Demonstrators are venting their anger ahead of the two-day summit, with the eye of the storm set to centre on the Bank of England.
Four separate marches by anarchists and anti-capitalists are converging on the area, staring out from Liverpool Street, Moorgate, London Bridge and Cannon Street.
At the same time, Climate Camp is planning to erect a 'tent city' in the middle of a busy London road, although quite where is not yet clear.
Meanwhile, anti-war demonstrators will be gathering outside the American embassy, while a separate faction of environmental activists is due to meet outside the Excel centre to push for action on climate change.
inthenews.co.uk will be bringing you live updates from the capital throughout the day and live from the scene at ExCel tomorrow.