Musicians lobby G-8 leaders with protest songs

Sting, Green Day, Ed Sheeran and Mumford & Sons are among musicians raising their voices against poverty by re-recording classic protest songs.

The agit8 project, which hopes to influence leaders at next week's G-8 summit in Northern Ireland, is backed by the One Campaign set up by U2 front man Bono.

It wants G-8 leaders to help boost African food production and improve transparency in international aid.

The songs, available online from today, include Sting performing The Police track "Driven to Tears" and Sheeran's version of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War."

"Love, Actually" director Richard Curtis has made a short film on the theme of music and protest. It will be projected onto the side of London's Tate Modern gallery today through Thursday evenings.