DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR

Bob Geldof, who has no real claim to fame, is determined to draw attention to himself and possibly help Africa in the process. Just in case you haven't heard, Geldof claims Africa is being exploited by the West and has called for mass protests at the upcoming Gleneagles G8 summit. Not everyone is impressed:

"There is a massive gap between the expectations created for this summit and the political reality on the ground," Tom Cargill, head of the Africa section at the Royal Institute for International Affairs think-tank, told Reuters.

"Geldof sees himself as the African Messiah. He believes that his force of personality and hectoring will get the G8 leaders to change their minds. But it won't happen," he said. "The risk is the campaign will then turn into frustration."

There is a real worry the protest will turn violent:

Some aid agencies within the Make Poverty History coalition are concerned that his impromptu demonstration lacks organisation and could attract violent troublemakers.

"There are concerns that it's not an organised event and therefore not something that the organisers are going to have any control over. And there are concerns that things could go wrong," a senior official in a leading aid agency told the Guardian.

Fears about safety were increased yesterday after Special Branch officers, who are working to ensure there will be no repeat of the riots in Genoa in 2001, said anarchists were planning to hijack the Geldof mass protest. Detectives who have been monitoring violent anti-capitalist groups say the message is already being passed between activists.

He's also copping criticism from performers:

The singer also faced anger from African bands over the predominantly white lineup of artists he has chosen for Live 8, the five-country free rock concerts to be broadcast around the world four days before world leaders meet at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Only one African act - the Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour - appears in the list of artists in London, Philadelphia, Berlin, Paris and Rome.

South African president Thabo Mbeki is taking a much more positive view of the Gleneagles summit:

"The [U.S.] president is very keen that at the end of the summit there is not just a general statement, but practical outcomes," he said.

"I must say that President Bush has responded extremely positively to all our suggestions," said Mr. Mbeki. "I am absolutely certain that President Bush is committed" to helping Africa on market access and ending agricultural subsidies, which inhibit the ability of African farmers to compete on a level playing field.

I'd suggest Geldof go back to singing but he wasn't any good at that either. Fuckwit.