Jun 18, 2013

From the Syria War to ending world hunger and government corruption, a look at protestors at the June G8 Summit. Leaders of the G8 countries are meeting in Northern Ireland June 17-18.

: Protesters from anti-hunger charity Oxfam wearing masks depicting leaders of G8 countries pose on a golf course in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland on June 18, 2013. (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

: Placards depicting different flavoured ice cream for the G8 leaders are seen attached to a fence at a service station on the road to the Lough Erne Golf Resort, where the G8 Summit is being held, near Enniskilen in Northern Ireland June 18, 2013. (Cathal McNaughton/Reuters)

: Protesters from anti-hunger charity Oxfam wearing masks depicting the leaders of the G8 countries pose on a golf course in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland on June 18, 2013 near the venue of the G8 summit at the golfing resort of Lough Erne. (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protesters from anti-hunger charity Oxfam wearing masks depicting Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (L) and Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron pose on a golf course in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland on June 18, 2013 near the venue of the G8 summit at the golfing resort of Lough Erne. (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

: Police remove anti-G8 signs from the security fence at the G8 summit venue at Lough Erne on June 17, 2013 in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. The two day G8 summit, hosted by UK Prime Minister David Cameron, is being held in Northern Ireland for the first time. (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

: A protester wears a mask at the fence near the G8 Summit at Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillenin Northern Ireland on June 17, 2013. (Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images)

: Anti-G8 protestors break through the security fence surrounding the G8 Summit in the Lough Erne Golf Resort in County Fermanagh June 17, 2013. (Cathal McNaughton/Reuters)

: Joe Shannon, 6 years old holds a sign saying ‘World Peace’ as Protesters march to the G8 Summit at Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland on June 17, 2013. (Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protesters wearing knitted balaclavas protest at the fence near the G8 Summit at Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillenin Northern Ireland on June 17, 2013. (Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images)

: Demonstrators from the ‘IF campaign’ wearing masks depicting G8 leaders protest against tax avoidance during the G8 Summit in Enniskillen, in Northern Ireland, on June 17, 2013. (Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images)

: Demonstrators from the ‘IF campaign’ wearing masks depicting G8 leaders protest against tax avoidance during the G8 Summit in Enniskillen, in Northern Ireland, on June 17, 2013. (Bertrand Langlouis/AFP/Getty Images)

: Demonstrators wear “Free Pussy Riot” balaclavas as they protest at the security fence surrounding the G8 Summit at Lough Erne in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland June 17, 2013. (Cathal McNaughton/Reuters)

: A demonstrator wears a “Free Pussy Riot” balaclava and holds a placard that reads “Putin: Stop Jailing Free Press” as she protests at the security fence surrounding the G8 Summit at Lough Erne in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland June 17, 2013. (Cathal McNaughton/Reuters)

: A Buddhist demonstrator protests at the security fence surrounding the G8 Summit at Lough Erne in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland June 17, 2013. (Cathal McNaughton/Reuters)

: Oxfam charity volunteers wear masks depicting the G8 leaders around a large cauldron during a photo call to draw attention to the issue of world hunger outside City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on June 16, 2013. (Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images)

: Oxfam charity volunteers wear masks depicting the G8 leaders, U.S. President Obama (L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) around a large cauldron during a photo call to draw attention to the issue of world hunger outside City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on June 16, 2013. (Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protesters walk together from the center of Enniskillen in Northern Ireland on June 17, 2013 towards the security fences of the G8 Summit. (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protesters walk together from the center of Enniskillen in Northern Ireland on June 17, 2013 towards the security fences of the G8 Summit. (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protesters walk together from the center of Enniskillen in Northern Ireland on June 17, 2013 towards the security fences of the G8 Summit. (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

: Amnesty International volunteers wear masks and orange suits depicting detainees at Guantanamo Bay during a photo call calling on U.S. President Barrack Obama to close the Guantanamo Bay military detention camp outside the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on June 16, 2013 ahead of the G8 Summit. (Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images)

: Amnesty International volunteers wear masks and orange suits depicting detainees at Guantanamo Bay during a photo call calling on U.S. President Barrack Obama to close the Guantanamo Bay military detention camp outside the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on June 16, 2013 ahead of the G8 Summit. (Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images)

: A man holds a placard during a demonstration against Western involvement in the Syria conflict outside the US embassy in London on June 15, 2013 ahead of the G8 Summit. (Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images)

: A man holds a Union flag in the city center in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on June 15, 2013 during a planned Trade Unions rally ahead of the G8 Summit. Many protetsers carried anti-G8 placards during the event which was met at it’s culmination with a Loyalist flag protest. (Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images)

: A woman wearing a Guy Fawkes mask takes part in a demonstration in Belfast, against the upcoming G8 summit to be held near Enniskillen, June 15, 2013. Leaders of the G8 countries will meet at Lough Erne in Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit on June 17 and 18. (Yves Herman/Reuters)

: Protestors dressed as a businessman give each other “high five” on a protest site named by participants as the “Isle of Shady Tax Haven” in London on June 14, 2013, ahead of the G8 Summit. Campaigners are calling for a crackdown on tax havens. (Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images)

: A demonstrator from ‘Stop G8’ displays a banner outside the offices of BAE Systems in London, on June 12, 2013, during a protest ahead of the G8 Summit. (Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images)

: A demonstrator from ‘Stop G8’ is pictured outside the offices of BAE Systems in London on June 12, 2013, during a protest against the G8 Summit. (Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protestors march through the streets of central London, on June 11, 2013, during demonstrations against the G8 Summit ahead of it on June 17 and 18, 2013. (Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protestors march through the streets of central London, on June 11, 2013, during demonstrations against the G8 Summit ahead of it on June 17 and 18, 2013. (Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images)

: Yarnbombers Purl 1(L) and Knit 1display some of the guerilla knitting and crocheting which they plan to use when they target the G8 summit June 17. Photo taken June 13, 2013. Yarnbombing uses knitting or crochet work to make a statement in public, rather than graffiti or street art. (Cathal McNaughton/Reuters)

: Yarnbombers Purl 1(L) and Knit 1display some of the guerilla knitting and crocheting which they plan to use when they target the G8 summit June 17. Photo taken June 13, 2013. Yarnbombing uses knitting or crochet work to make a statement in public, rather than graffiti or street art. (Cathal McNaughton/Reuters)

: A protester sits on Piccadilly in front of a police line during a demonstration ahead of the G8 summit in Northern Ireland on June 11, 2013 in London, England. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

RELATED
G8 leaders sidestep fate of Syria’s Assad in final communique
Alexei Anishchuk and Andrew Osborn, Reuters
11:09 a.m. EDT, June 18, 2013

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (Reuters) – Global leaders called for peace talks to be held as soon as possible to resolve the Syrian civil war but they failed to mention the fate of President Bashar al-Assad in a final G8 summit communique

Isolated at the G8, Russia’s Vladimir Putin had clashed with other leaders over the conflict and resisted their attempts to get him to agree to anything that would imply Assad should step down or that Russia should tone down its support for Assad.

“We remain committed to achieving a political solution to the crisis based on a vision for a united inclusive and democratic Syria,” according to a copy of the final communique seen by Reuters.

“We strongly endorse the decision to hold as soon as possible the Geneva conference on Syria,” said the communique.

It made no mention of Assad, whom Western leaders have said in the past said must step down as part of a resolution.

G8 leaders also called on the Syrian authorities and the opposition to commit to destroying all organizations affiliated with al Qaeda.

U.S. President Barack Obama and his allies want Assad to cede power while Putin, whose rhetoric has become increasingly anti-Western since he was re-elected last year, believes that would be disastrous at a time when no clear transition plan exists.

Russia has been Assad’s most powerful supporter as his forces struggle to crush an uprising in which 93,000 people have been killed since March 2011. He can also count on backing from Iran.

The United States, Turkey, and European and Gulf Arab states support the rebels, who have lost ground to Assad’s troops in recent weeks.

Western powers had tried to hash out a statement with teeth on Syria that all G8 leaders could agree on, though sources indicated that Putin resisted.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, speaking on the summit sidelines, said earlier Russia had refused to accept any mention of Assad’s fate in the communique.

“This would be not just unacceptable for the Russian side, but we are convinced that it would be utterly wrong, harmful and would completely upset the political balance,” Ryabkov said.

Russia and the United States agree the warring sides should be brought together to discuss Syria’s future at a peace conference as soon as July. But its timing was under question and one source said it would be delayed until August.

Putin appeared tense on the first day and has faced a barrage of criticism over his Syria stance. Canada’s Stephen Harper accused him of supporting “thugs” in Damascus. His meeting with Obama was frosty and both men looked uncomfortable.

(Additional reporting by Andrew Osborn, William Schomberg, Guy Faulconbridge, Roberta Rampton, Alexei Anishchuk and Jeff Mason in Enniskillen; Writing by Maria Golovnina; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

Protesting the G8 Summit

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