Chancellor Gordon Brown has appealed for thousands of people to gather in Edinburgh to call for justice for the world's poor in the run-up to July's G8 summit in Gleneagles.

Mr Brown issued the public call in a speech in which he also called for a "new crusade" against child poverty in Britain.

The Chancellor described how he had seen first-hand the plight of Aids sufferers in his recent visit to Africa.

One dying Aids victim unable to pay for treatment told the Chancellor: "I know I am despised here in my community but are we not all brothers?"

And Mr Brown told the conference: "It is because we are all brothers and sisters that I ask you to persuade thousands of people to gather with the churches, the faith groups, the trade unions and the NGOs in Edinburgh, just before the world leaders meet in Gleneagles, to ensure that the people's voice is heard. Tell them of the suffering we can no longer allow to happen."

Mr Brown issued his appeal in a speech to the Scottish Labour Party conference in Dundee where he also called for a new Labour "crusade" against child poverty.

His speech set themes for Labour's General Election campaign, putting the £35 billion of cuts which Labour allege the Tories would carry out, and the National Health Service, at the heart of the coming campaign.

He also sought to damp down expectations of a give-away pre-election budget on March 16.

"I give you this promise - the budget will lock in our commitment to monetary vigilance and fiscal discipline, we will meet our fiscal rules in a prudent and long-term way," said Mr Brown.

"And we will take no risks with economic stability now, in the next parliament, or at any time," he added.

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