Military and police forces have sealed off the venue - the secluded resort of Sea Island, off Georgia.

Leaders of the world's leading industrial nations are gathering there for talks.

US officials have said the summit could be one of several high-profile events in the country this summer targeted by Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Only those with high-level credentials are being allowed onto Sea Island.

About five miles (8km) long and two miles (1.3km) wide, the private island can be reached only by a two-lane causeway - or from the Atlantic Ocean.

Concrete barriers, metal fencing and checkpoints have been put in place around key buildings and routes on the mainland and surrounding islands.

Thousands of police officers and National Guard troops are patrolling roads and bridges, while military aircraft and gunboats have also been deployed.

Unlike at previous G8 summits, anti-globalisation protests are expected to be low-key.

Iraq differences

The Group of Eight countries are the US, Japan, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Canada and Russia.

Although it originally began as an economic forum, the agenda for this G8 summit is decidedly political.

Iraq is likely to dominate, with the status of coalition forces in the country after the handover of power at the end of this month a key issue.

Political reform in the wider Middle East, terrorism and security, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and North Korea's nuclear ambitions are also on the summit agenda.

G8 SUMMIT: LOCATION AND SECURITY 1 Access to Sea Island restricted to G8 delegates and local residents 2 All traffic on Torras Causeway monitored at checkpoints 3 Boating restrictions in place in some areas around Sea Island 4 G8 delegates not staying on Sea Island are staying in Savannah. Armed coastguards, National Guard troops and helicopters on patrol