President George W Bush has agreed to support a British plan for more generous debt relief for the world's poorest countries, reports the Guardian.

The US had been planning a modest extension of debt relief at the G8 summit which begins today in Sea Island, Georgia, but the Bush administration has signalled to Tony Blair that it has changed its position.

This move is seen as an attempt to win more backing for a $90 billion write-off of Iraqi debts built up under Saddam Hussein.