G8 to tackle Syria, NKorea, Iran, Afghanistan, Myanmar

Leaders of the Group of Eight will discuss the bloodshed in Syria, nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea, peace for Afghanistan, reforms in Myanmar, food in Africa and the eurozone crisis.
Following is a breakdown of the key global issues to be tackled at the G8 summit in Camp David, Maryland, by the leaders of the United States, Russia, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan:
--SYRIA
The leaders will press for Syria to abide by a widely-violated month-long ceasefire as well as implement a six-point peace plan brokered by UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.
However, Russia has continued putting the onus on the opposition to stop the violence, while the other powers have demanded President Bashar al-Assad take the first steps to shore up the ceasefire.
Moscow -- which along with China is a long-standing Assad ally -- has drawn international criticism for vetoing two UN Security Council resolutions against Assad's regime.
The G8 may discuss next steps in the event the ceasefire and peace plan collapse.
-- IRAN
G8 nations are likely to push for a peaceful and negotiated solution to Iran's showdown with the West over its suspect nuclear program, ahead of a new round of talks next week between six world powers and Iran.
Delegates from the United States, China, Russia, France, Germany and Britain are due to meet in Baghdad on May 23, after gathering last month in Istanbul in what marked a revival of talks stalled for more than a year.
All but China are G8 powers.
G8 foreign ministers last month "urged Iran to enter into a sustained process of constructive and serious dialogue without precondition on the basis of reciprocity and a step-by-step approach" to ease fears over its nuclear program.
The West fears Iran's program masks a drive to build an atomic bomb, while Iran insists it is exclusively focused on generating energy and conducting medical research.
-- NORTH KOREA
The G8, which last month condemned North Korea over its defiant rocket launch, are likely to tackle concerns that Pyongyang may go ahead with a third nuclear weapons test.
G8 members the United States, Russia and Japan are also partners in the stalled six-party nuclear disarmament talks that also involve China, South Korea and North Korea.
-- AFGHANISTAN
The G8 said it plans "to further mobilize commitment to sustainable levels of non-security assistance to Afghanistan" after NATO-led forces hand over security duties to their Afghan counterparts in 2014.
-- MYANMAR
The G8 aims to support further efforts toward democratic reform and national reconciliation in Myanmar. The G8 are considering easing sanctions to support reform and eventually end the country's international isolation.
They will likely keep pressing Myanmar to enact further reforms, release all remaining political prisoners, end all violence in ethnic minority areas, provide humanitarian access to conflict zones and cut military ties with North Korea.
-- EUROZONE
The leaders will discuss efforts to prevent the eurozone crisis from spreading not only within Europe but to the rest of the world, amid new fears over Greek political chaos and Spanish banking health.
New French President Francois Hollande says he wants to renegotiate the European Union's fiscal pact in order to complement its austerity rules with more targeted investment in jobs and growth. Obama supports both growth and economic stability in Europe
-- AFRICAN FOOD SECURITY
US President Barack Obama has invited President Yayi Boni of Benin, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, President John Mills of Ghana, and President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania to discuss progress toward food security in Africa.
The leader of Benin also chairs the African Union.
The G8 believes that in addition to public assistance for agriculture, the private sector must draw on its resources to ensure lasting gains in ensuring affordable food for all.