UN climate chief Yvo de Boer has warned that the negotiations at the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen are proceeding far too slowly.

The Dutchman says progress is being made but that it is not sufficient and a lot of work remains to be done. He warns that a new climate deal can only be achieved on Friday if things speed up. Then over 120 world leaders who have gathered in the Danish capital are expected to agree to an international deal at the final session.

The Danish minister responsible for the conference, Connie Hedegaard, says there is still a plenty of disagreement on spreading the cost of environmental measures and the reduction of CO2 emissions.

The African delegations staged a walkout on Monday in protest at the West's readiness to abandon the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which exempts poor countries from obligations on CO2 emissions. Developed nations would prefer to see a new agreement, partly because the United States has consistently refused to sign the Kyoto Agreement.