Leaders of the Group of Eight most powerful nations began a summit in the northern French resort of Deauville on Thursday.
A few hundred of the town's well-heeled and largely elderly population turned out under drizzling rain to watch leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the US march up the red carpet.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy did a meet and greet of the anorak-wearing and camera-waving crowd before welcoming the leaders as the republican guard's band played.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama arrived on foot from nearby hotels, shook hands with the awaiting crowd and entered the summit venue with Sarkozy.
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