DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 30 -- U. N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened a conference on development Saturday in Qatar by saying there is a global emergency.

Ban called on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to shield developing countries that have managed to escape the global financial crisis, KUNA, the Kuwait news agency, reported.

"We also confront a development emergency and accelerating climate change," Ban said.

Developing countries need to invest in technology that produces less pollution and in job creation, he said. He also called on international institutions to reduce the debt owed by poor countries and to encourage government investment.

Ban called for the four-day conference immediately after he attended the global summit in Washington of 20 economically powerful countries. (UPI)