Climate conference president resigns as talks stalemate

The Danish president of the UN climate conference, Connie Hedegaard, today resigned acknowledging failure of the talks. Danish prime minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen will replace her as the new head of the historic talks.

The Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, being attended by 115 heads of states and 193 nations, also appeared to be in a limbo amidst claims by protesters that the talks have failed.

"With so many heads of state and government having arrived it's appropriate that the prime minister of Denmark presides," Hedegaard said.

"However, the prime minister has appointed me as his special representative and I will thus continue to negotiate," she said.

Hedegaard's move to resign is also seen as a direct effect of the severe criticism by African nations for favouring rich nations in the negotiations. In fact, almost all developing nations have been accusing her of drafting the pact in favour of the rich countries.

There is also no agreement yet on whether to extend the Kyoto Protocol and add extra national commitments under a separate pact, or replace it with a new treaty, which specifies levels for all countries.