G8 Summit begins in Italy's earthquake zone

[BirminghamExaminer]

This is an excerpt from the article. To read the entire column, click here.

The leaders will meet in L'Aquila, Italy where a major earthquake occurred in April, killing nearly 300 people. There is an evacuation plan in place because the area is still experiencing tremors.

China's president, Hu Jintao has had to bow out of the summit to fly home to Beijing due to protests in China's western province between groups of Uighur and Han Chinese. 156 people have been killed in clashes there over the weekend.

The other G8 leaders will meet to talk about climate change, food security, the economy and more.

According to the BBC, a top geologist has predicted there will be more tremors in the earthquake ravaged area this week but says the summit venue should be safe. Plans are in place that will take all the leaders to tents where they will be rescued by helicopter.