Ninety-eight world leaders have confirmed they will attend the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen this month, Reuters quoted Danish Premier Lars Lokke Rasmussen as saying today. Such a turnout by heads of state and government would mean that leaders of more than half of the United Nations" 192 members would be present at the conference aiming for a new deal to combat climate change. "It gives me a strong feeling that we are on the right track," Rasmussen told a news conference. Host nation Denmark last month invited the heads of all U.N. member states to attend the final two days of the Dec. 7-18 conference to muster strong political support for an agreement. The number of world leaders enrolled has climbed gradually from the 65 that Denmark a week and a half ago said would come. U.S. President Barack Obama has said he will attend the conference on Dec. 9, a day before he is due to collect his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. Though most world leaders are expected to attend on the last two days of the conference, Dec. 17-18, in line with Denmark"s invitation, officials have said that some may choose to come when Obama will be present.
