Poznan, Poland  - Negotiators at UN climate talks were poised Friday to unlock a 60-million-dollar fund to help poor countries combat effects of global warming such as rising sea levels, participants said.

While money would not be available immediately and details were to be settled later, the deal signalled rare progress as a two-week conference in Poznan, Poland, entered its final hours.

"This could open up a bit more of an empowering process for developing countries," said Kit Vaughan of the Worldwide Fund for Nature.

Conflict between rich and poor countries has flared repeatedly at this year's talks, meant to create momentum for a sweeping deal next December on cuts in emissions of gases blamed for global warming.

Industrialized countries say they want to bulk up the so-called Adaptation Fund into the billions of dollars. They broke the deadlock Friday by agreeing that poor nations could start submitting project proposals to the fund.

Rules to ensure that projects are well-designed and the money is used for its intended purpose - a rich-country demand - will be drafted in the coming months.

Developing countries have pressed for the fund's launch as a sign that rich nations are serious about helping them gird against damage linked to global warming, such as floods and stronger storms.

"This is setting a precedent for building trust among parties," Vaughan said. (dpa)