Obama to convince India, China to support Dhaka at climate meet

Obama to convince India, China to support Dhaka at climate meetDhaka, Dec 15 - US President Barack Obama has said he would "try to convince" Bangladesh's neighbour India and China to speak in Dhaka's favour at the climate summit at Copenhagen.

His assurance of support for Dhaka's case for special funds as it's a disaster-prone state came during a telephone call he made to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina before she left for the summit Monday evening, Star Online said Tuesday.

Obama telephoned Hasina around 9 p. m. and assured her that the US government "would stand beside Bangladesh in its battle against the crucial climate change", ruling Awami League's joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif told reporters at the Zia International Airport after Hasina's departure.

Obama's assurance came three days after Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown extended his country's support to Bangladesh for its position in the ongoing Copenhagen climate talks.

The US president assured Hasina of his government's support in getting the adequate climate change adaptation fund, Hanif said.  (IANS)