Brazil to reject G7 money to fight amazon fires

A tree stump glows with fire amid smoke along the road to Jacunda National Forest, near the city of Porto Velho in the Vila Nova Samuel region which is part of Brazil's Amazon, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019. AP
A tree stump glows with fire amid smoke along the road to Jacunda National Forest, near the city of Porto Velho in the Vila Nova Samuel region which is part of Brazil's Amazon, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019. AP

BRASILIA – The Brazilian government has said it will reject an offer of aid from G7 countries to help tackle fires in the Amazon rainforest.

French President Emmanuel Macron – who hosted a G7 summit that ended on Monday – said $22m (£18m) would be released.

But foreign minister Ernesto Araujo has said a new initiative is not needed, because international mechanisms are in place to fight deforestation.

And the defence minister said the fires in the Amazon were not out of control.

President Jair Bolsonaro has accused France of treating Brazil like a colony. (AP)

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