Mumbai: The Group of Eight (G-8) wealthy nations agreed to pledge $60 billion to fight AIDS and malaria in Africa on the final day of their annual summit in Heiligendamm, Germany.

About half the sum, meant to combat AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, has already been pledged by the United States, sources at the G-8 summit said.

Summit host German chancellor Angela Merkel was to announce the plan, German development minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said.

Leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States hosted African leaders, including South African president Thabo Mbeki, on the last day of the summit.

The G8 leaders who struck a face-saving deal on climate change turned to development aid on the final day discussing ways of coordinating assistance to Africa with emerging powers from the so-called `Plus Five'' group - Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.

The Group of Five nations wanted their ''''different capacities and interests'''' taken into consideration when tackling climate change, sticking to the view of China and India that imposing emissions cuts would restrict their booming economic growth.

The accord worked out by the G8 was dismissed by environmental groups as an empty gesture but many observers hailed the pact for finally tying the United States to the goal of fighting global warming.