Britain, France call for a global finance summit

The world's top economies should hold global talks this year on reforming the world's financial system, British and French leaders declared Wednesday. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said a global summit could be held as soon as November and should involve the United States, European nations and emerging economies such as China and India. It would also aim to relaunch stalled global trade talks. French President Nicolas Sarkozy also demanded fundamental reform of the world financial system, and a summit "preferably in New York, where everything started." Brown said an overhaul of global financial bodies like the Washington-based International Monetary Fund, and the creation of better rules governing financial markets, were "urgently needed so that we can restore confidence" in the global financial system.