TOYAKO, Hokkaido — The Group of Eight leaders headed for home Wednesday evening after wrapping up their three-day annual summit.
For U.S. President George W. Bush, it was his eighth and final meeting. But several of his fellow summiteers return home wondering whether they'll be packing their bags for next year's G8 gathering in Italy.
"Many of the most powerful G8 members, including host Japan, (sent to the Toyako) summit leaders who do not firmly control their parties or legislatures, who are deeply unpopular with their voters and who will not be in office long enough personally to deliver the promises they make," said John Kirton, director of the G8 Research Group at the University of Toronto.