BASIC ministers briefly walk out of negotiations at Copenhagen

India and three other members of the BASIC group today briefly walked out of negotiations at the climate summit here, apparently unhappy that enough focus was not being given to the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol that puts obligations on developed nations to undertake emission cuts.

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh along with his counterparts from Brazil, South Africa and China walked out to meet Connie Hedegaard, the Danish president of the COP, and convey their protest.

While details of what happened were not available, sources said the development followed a disagreement between the developing countries and the developed nations on the second commitment period.

The BASIC ministers were unhappy over the second commitment period not being discussed properly, sources in the Australian delegation said. All formal meetings were put on hold following the development.

After holding a 35-minute meeting with Hedegaard, the ministers emerged out, with Ramesh signalling that the issue had been resolved.

Asked if the issue had been resolved, Ramesh said, "I think so... I am heading to the plenary now". Informal ministerial- level meetings are also scheduled to begin today.

The negotiations between delegates trying to hammer out a treaty to combat global warming have turned bitter as they entered the crucial second week with sharp differences persisting between the developed and the developing nations.