The 'Danish Text' was leaked to the UK newspaper, The Guardian, earlier today.

The text is a draft proposal for the final political agreement that should be signed by national leaders including Barack Obama and Gordon Brown at the end of the Copenhagen summit on 18 December. It was prepared in secret by a group of individuals known as "the circle of commitment" but understood to include the US and Denmark. It proposed a green fund to be controlled by a board, most likely run by the World Bank and not the UN. It also included emission reductions for developing countries, something that has not previously been discussed during negotiations.

Instant reaction to the leaked document

Three hours after the 'Danish Text' had been leaked, Lumumba Di-Aping, the Sudanese chairman of the group of 132 developing countries known as G77 plus China, explained why the developing countries he represents were so incensed. "The text robs developing countries of their just and equitable and fair share of the atmospheric space. It tries to treat rich and poor countries as equal," he told the conference.

Five hours later, the UN's, Yvo de Boer, said: "This was an informal paper ahead of the conference given to a number of people for the purposes of consultations. The only formal texts in the UN process are the ones tabled by the chairs of this Copenhagen conference at the behest of the parties [involved]."

But the representatives of developing nations at the conference, made it clear that they felt betrayed by the intent of the proposals in the text.

"This text destroys both the UN convention on climate change and the Kyoto protocol. This is aimed at producing a new treaty, a new legal initiative that throws away the basis of [differing] obligations between the poorest and most wealthy nations in the world," said Di-Aping.

Antonio Hill, climate policy adviser for Oxfam International, told the Guardian: "This is only a draft, but it highlights the risk that when the big countries come together, the small ones get hurt."

A spokesman for Cafod, a development charity with close links to some of the poorest countries in the world, said: "This draft document reveals the backstage machinations of a biased host who, instead of acting as nonpartisan broker, is taking sides with the developed countries.

"The document should not even exist. There is a UN legal process which is the official negotiating text. The Danish text disrespects the solid, steady approach of the UN process."

Ban Ki-moon speaks out over 'Danish text'

The United Nations secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, later this afternoon re-asserted ownership over the Copenhagen climate change meeting after the "trust issues" between developed and developing nations was exposed in the leaked 'Danish text'. He said he was confident of getting a deal for immediate action on global warming.

In a press interview, Ban said he believed the negotiations remained on course for a strong deal, sweetened with the early release of $10bn in aid to poor countries and set down in international law within six months. He was also adamant that deal would hinge on the core elements of the Kyoto protocol, which developing countries feared was being sabotaged in the 'Danish text' document.

The leaked document has clearly exposed a large distrust between industrialised and developing countries. Ban Ki-moon and others must now work to ease relations ahead of over 100 world leaders arriving to draw up a deal next week.

Support for 'Tuvalu protocol' exacerbates the disruption caused by 'Danish Text'

Negotiations at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen dramatically broke down for a second time today after developing countries split between those who favour a new protocol and others who want to continue with the legally binding Kyoto agreement.

Tuvalu, a Pacific island state politically and financially close to Australia, proposed a new protocol which would potentially force deeper global emission cuts, but could lead to other developing countries - rather than rich nations - having to make those cuts.

Many developing nations cherish the legally binding commitments that Kyoto places on industrialised nations and fiercely oppose proposals that would change this.

Tuvalu was immediately supported by other small island states, including, Trinidad and Tobago and several African states. But it was opposed by 15 countries, which included the powerful nations of China, Saudi Arabia and India. One of the two negotiating tracks was suspended for several hours as a result of no consensus being be reached.

Civil society groups including the TckTckTck campaign and 350.org demonstrated outside the meeting in favour of Tuvalu, chanting: "Tuvalu is the new deal."

Observers, told press that, a G77 plus China rift at this early stage in the conference was a serious setback for the big developing countries. Small island states, least developed countries and Africa have so far worked together in public with the G77.