German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country has the rotating G8 presidency for 2007, had pressed for firm targets, but claimed she was "very satisfied" with Thursday's outcome.

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G8 in the first half of 2007, it will have a hard time saying no.

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In 2007 Germany assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union (for six months) and presided over the G8 summit of the world's biggest economies, allowing Ms Merkel to display a flair for statesmanship.

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