Commonwealth summit ends

KAMPALA, Uganda, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- A two-day Commonwealth of Nations summit overshadowed by the Pakistan crisis and begun with violent protests ended Saturday in Uganda.

The 53 members of the Commonwealth failed to make a "binding commitment" on climate change because of objections from Canada and Australia, CanWest News Service reported. Commonwealth leaders had hoped to bring a united position to the upcoming climate change summit in Indonesia.

The clashes between police and protesters in Kampala Friday echoed recent troubles in Pakistan that have led to that country's suspension and to those in Zimbabwe, which left the Commonwealth in 2003. Opponents of the Ugandan government said that Commonwealth countries should be sanctioning Uganda instead of visiting it, The Times of London reported.

"What is happening in Pakistan also happened here," said Kizza Besigye, leader of the Forum for Democratic Change. "(President Pervez) Musharraf has been asked to leave the Commonwealth. Why not here?"

Three people were injured as 100 police officers armed with batons blocked demonstrators.