Brown urges global trade package

But the Prime Minister's appeal was in danger of being upstaged after his host launched an attack on the "white, blue-eyed people" who had caused the economic crisis.

Brazil's President, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, said he had never met a black banker and insisted the poor should not suffer as a result of mistakes by the rich.

"This is a crisis that was caused by people, white with blue eyes. And before the crisis they looked as if they knew everything about economics," Mr Da Silva told a joint press conference in Brasilia. "Once again the great part of the poor in the world that were still not yet (getting) their share of development that was caused by globalisation, they were the first ones to suffer."

He added: "Since I am not acquainted with any black bankers, I can only say that this part of humanity that is the major victim of the world crisis, these people should pay for the crisis? I cannot accept that."

Mr Da Silva - who is white - hit out at other countries for restricting immigration, stressed that Brazil's own banking system had been well regulated, and also demanded a deal on the stalled Doha trade round.

Downing Street views Brazil as a key ally in getting agreement in London next week. Its economy had been growing quickly until exports slumped amid the turmoil.

The PM warned that this year worldwide trade was projected to fall for the first time in 30 years.

"Literally thousands of businesses who want to trade around the world are being prevented from doing so by the absence of trade credit available to them," Mr Brown said. "I'm going to ask the G20 next week to support a global expansion of trade finance of at least 100 billion US dollars to help revive trade in all parts of the world."

Details of the package being sought by Mr Brown are not yet clear, although he indicated that the money would come from private sources as well as governments.