In a Reuters report, Bono later joked that while delivering the petition, he had a problem with Schroeder's suit, ''We will discuss style matters again, I told him.''

The goal of the Jubilee 2000 effort is to convince the world's major powers to eradicate outstanding debts that are draining the economies of under-developed countries. On Friday, G8 leaders announced a plan to wipe out $70 billion in debt owed by Third World countries.

President Clinton supported the decision in a statement, saying, ''The agreement we reached today is an historic step to help the world's poorest nations achieve sustained growth and independence while targeting new resources for poverty reduction, education and combating AIDS.''

Jubilee supporters welcomed the progress of the figure, but noted that it would still not make a significant dent in the debt service of many affected countries.

''I'm not happy with the decision. It's a half measure, typical of politicians. I would ask them to go with their consciences and do more,'' Geldof said in a statement issued by the Jubilee-related Tearfund.

Yorke concurred, telling Reuters the $70 billion figure was ''just a stunt,'' in his opinion. ''They have done a cosmetic propaganda job and my job is to upset that spin. They are not addressing the central issues and we need to make the pressure more direct.''

G8 leaders claim that the amount will eliminate more than half of the debt load of Third World nations, a figure disputed by Jubilee leaders, who place the relief level closer to one third. Even at that level, Jubilee supporters say, Third World nations would still be forced to pay the world's richest nations more than they could spend on their own infrastructure.

''It's obscene to think that in a country like Nigeria they have a life expectancy of 47 years, and that they spend more on servicing debt than they do on health and education,'' said Bono.