Toyako, Japan - Several thousand protesters demonstrated in northern Japan Saturday against the upcoming Group of Eight (G8) summit.

In the largest protest an estimated 5,000 people, including members of NGO and civil groups, gathered in a park in the northern city of Sapporo to demonstrate against the G8's failure to deal with world poverty and war, local media reported.

"The G8 countries have failed in their responsibilities," resulting in discrimination, war and environmental destruction, said one of the organizers, Akiyoshi Ishida.

"The G8 countries are the greatest weapons exporters in the world and when they meet they don't work for the creation of peace," said a 59-year-old housewife and peace activist at the rally.

"When the leaders of the richest states meet does that serve to help the poor? History and common sense says no," said an activist from the US.

The G8 groups the world's seven biggest economies and Russia. The northern Japanese city of Toyako is the venue for their July 7-9 summit. (dpa)