By Chris Ferguson

THE WORLD’S most powerful men arrived in Perthshire within hours of each other yesterday to try to reach agreement on a deal that could transform a continent.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, the host and first leader at the G8 summit in Gleneagles, has put a debt-relieving package for Africa at the centre of his G8 presidency agenda.

Downing Street officials said last night that they believe agreement on measures to break poverty and hammer corruption in African states is within reach.

But they acknowledge that talks on tackling climate change could go to the wire.

US President George W. Bush, who reached Gleneagles just after 4 pm, is thought to be resistant to tough C02 emission controls.

French President Jacques Chirac, who arrived in Scotland at about 6.30 pm and has had a strained relationship with Mr Blair of late, may not be an ally the UK can count on, especially given London’s success in the Olympic race.

Last night President Chirac, embroiled in a diplomatic row over his comments on British food, dined on Glenearn lamb from Perthshire at a dinner for the leaders hosted by the Queen.

Today the tough talking begins and this could lead to a communique being issued tomorrow afternoon heralding a new beginning for Africa.

Downing Street believes a deal on Africa is within reach, building on debt relief agreements already thrashed out by Chancellor Gordon Brown.

The G8—the UK, US, Canada, Italy, Russia, Japan, France and Germany—are also expected to lead calls for an anti-corruption drive on the continent, and to agree a package aimed at tackling the scourge of diseases such as TB, malaria and HIV/Aids.

Number 10 insists the final communique from the summit tomorrow will offer detailed commitments rather than warm words.

It was Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin who ushered in this year’s summit when he strode on to Scottish soil at 12.18 pm yesterday—then immediately refused luxury transport.

He was the first foreign G8 leader to arrive and turned down a Range Rover shuttle to Gleneagles Hotel. Instead he opted to walk through the manicured gardens with his wife, Sheila.

Yesterday, one of Mr Martin’s team said, “I presume he wanted the walk and the Scottish air after the flights and I think he may have wanted to take in his surroundings.”

The Canadian Prime Minister arrived at Gleneagles in one of the green and white liveried G8 helicopters after a short flight from Prestwick airport in Ayrshire.

He had arrived there about half an hour earlier after touching down in a battleship grey Canadian Air Force jet.

Mr Martin and his wife were greeted by First Minister Jack McConnell, Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, Major Richard Henderson, and local school children.

Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived at Gleneagles early yesterday after flying into Edinburgh from Singapore where he had made a presentation on behalf of London’s successful 2012 Olympic bid.

Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, arrived just before Mr Martin and was welcomed by Lord Triesman, Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

He touched down on the hotel’s lawn by helicopter and was driven in a black Range Rover to the hotel steps.

Just after 1 pm the Japanese delegation landed at Prestwick and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi emerged, his long hair ruffled by the breeze.

He gave a salute-cum wave from the top of the steps before being welcomed to Scotland on the runway by Mr McConnell.

The US delegation landed at Prestwick at 2.40 pm where President Bush and his wife, Laura, were in relaxed mood. They were greeted by Mr McConnell.

Mr Bush was in good form and warmly greeted waiting children from Glasgow and Ayrshire, after sharing a joke with the First Minister.

A helicopter gunship could be seen close by as two liveried US Marine helicopters took off for Gleneagles where the president arrived at 3.48 pm.

Next to arrive were President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation and President Chirac of France.