World leaders have backed plans for a new initiative to target poverty and disease in Africa.

The G8 group of world leaders agreed to an additional $6 billion dollars of aid for the region and announced plans for a new initiative to assist the continent.

But aid agencies and pressure groups are warning the politicians that they must back action with words.

They have slammed the world's richest nations for failing to deliver an adequate package of aid and assistance.

They dismissed the G8's Africa announcement as "recycled peanuts".

Tony Blair said New Partnership for Africa's Development was vital to halt Africa's slide into the abyss of mass poverty and disease.