Geldof wrings aid apology from Berlusconi

ROME, July 6 (UPI) -- Anti-poverty campaigner and singer Bob Geldof has forced an apology from Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the newspaper La Stampa reported Monday.

The newspaper said that during an interview it conducted in Rome, Geldof and Berlusconi engaged in a tough one-on-one debate over the Group of Eight's performance on pledges to help Africa made at its 2005 conference in Gleneagles, Scotland, with Geldof challenging Berlusconi's credibility to host this week's G8 summit, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Geldof reportedly said Italy had reneged on its African pledges, delivering only 3 percent of an aid increase promised by Berlusconi at Gleneagles.

"How can you lead the G8? Where is your credibility?" Geldof said while the Italian premier allegedly clenched his fists in anger.

Geldof's challenges brought an apology from Berlusconi, La Stampa said, quoting him as saying, "I am sorry, we made a mistake. We are sorry we also reduced aid to Africa," while blaming it on Italy's massive public debt and the global economic downturn, the Telegraph said.