A GOVERNMENT minister today rejected accusations at a faith conference in Canterbury that 'dark Europe' was to blame for the problems of world unrest and poverty.

Clare Short, who is Secretary of State for International Development, made a robust defence during the conference at the Cathedral's International Study Centre.

It is being attended by religious representatives and speakers from around the world as well as financial leaders from International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The claims that Europe was at fault came from a representative of the World Council of Churches which Miss Short rejected and called a 'simplification' of the problems.

Delegates to the Development and Faith conference included rock star Bono from the band U2 who does work in support of world debt relief and economic development. They were welcomed by the conference's co-chairman, the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey.

He said: "Its aim is to bring together the core moral values of all faiths with the World Bank and IMF to find ways in which we can make a richer contribution to resolve issues of dire poverty and justice in the world."

But the Archbishop admitted there were fundamental conflicts between those who wanted to make money and those trying to help the poor.

"That is part of the problem challenge and why we have to develop partnerships and bring the two groups together. We have got to find a way," he said.

With so many influential religious and financial representatives at the conference, the build-up to the event has deliberately been kept low key for security reasons.