OTTAWA, June 23: Anti-G8 protests began here on Sunday as the Canadian government is preparing for the two-day moot of the world’s richest nations on June 26-27 in Kanaskis, some 80km west of Calgary.

The Global Democracy Ottawa, the group that organized the protests, wants G8 leaders to stop promoting privatization and corporate control in Africa and focus on the continent’s labourers. According to eyewitnesses, the low-level Ottawa city protests were peaceful.

Anti-globalization bodies and social activists are also preparing to hold demonstrations in the Calgary city where the government has made massive security arrangements.

Government officials here said this time the security would be greater than it was during the World Petroleum Congress two years ago or during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games.

“The events of Sept 11 raised the bar considerably,” said Jamie Johnston, a G8 security planner and spokesman. “We need to respond to the realities of today’s world.”

The G8 leaders may focus their attention on an African action plan, terrorism and global economic growth during the summit. The conference will bring together leaders from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Italy and Russia.

At the top of the agenda will be an African initiative called the New Partnership for the Africa’s Development (NEPAD). The leaders plan to approve an African Action Plan based on NEPAD, at the end of the summit.

The initiative by the African leaders proposes to raise $64 billion in investments annually for Africa and sustain annual economic growth of over seven percent for the next 15 years. In exchange, African countries must commit to democracy, good governance and human rights.