Denmark asks world leaders to end climate deadlock

By Anna Ringstrom

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark upgraded U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen next month to a summit of world leaders to try to end deadlock between rich and poor on how to fight global warming.

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who will help represent Africa in Copenhagen, criticised world efforts to slow climate change that many African nations say is already causing floods, heatwaves, desertification and disease.

Facing long-running splits about a new U.N. climate pact, Denmark said it would ask world leaders to come for the final two days of the Dec. 7-18 conference to push for a deal at the meeting, originally meant for environment ministers.

"The invitations are sent by letter from Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen to the heads of state and government of the other 191 U.N. member states," a Danish government statement said.

Marathon preparatory talks since 2007 have failed to narrow splits between developed and developing nations on issues such as the depth of greenhouse gases by developed nations by 2020 or find extra funds to help the poor.

The United Nations said last week that about 40 leaders had already indicated plans to attend, mostly from developing nations as well as from Germany and Britain, even before an official invitation.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Thursday he would come. And U.S. President Barack Obama told Reuters this week he would attend if it could give the impetus to clinch a deal.

But Ethiopia's Meles said the world did not seem serious.