Inflation crisis could spark political unrest: Malaysia PM (AFP)

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - The soaring price of food and fuel could spark widespread political unrest, Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Tuesday at a summit of developing nations. Abdullah said the inflation crisis had erupted as a global recession looms, spelling trouble for the group of so-called "D8" nations meeting here, and called on them to boost food production to avert conflict. The D8 comprises Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey and is meeting as the Group of Eight (G8) industrial powers holds a high profile annual summit in Japan. "The price of oil has skyrocketed to levels never anticipated ... the price of food has increased beyond the normal abilities to pay by the poor, which form the majority of the world's people," he said in an opening speech. "Our people... [read full story]