L'AQUILA, Italy - More than 75,000 children will die during the three-day Group of Eight summit, the Save the Children charity said Wednesday as world leaders gathered for the talks in central Italy.

"It is outrageous that 9.2 million children are still dying every year," said Adrian Lovett, Save the Children's director of campaigns.

"More than 75,000 alone will die over the three-day G8 summit" which runs from Wednesday to Friday, he said in a statement.

"Previous G8 leaders have made promises that have too often not been kept. This year they have to show they are committed to saving children's lives by doubling aid for maternal, newborn and child healthcare," he added.

The London-based charity has called for contributions totalling seven billion dollars (S$10 billion) a year for maternal, newborn and child healthcare by 2012 but is currently receiving only half that amount, the statement said.

At current levels, the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by two thirds by 2015 cannot be achieved until 2045, the statement said.

"Quite simply, every dollar the G8 holds back means another child's life is threatened and more children will die," Lovett said. -AFP