Poznan, Poland - Climate negotiators struggled Friday to bridge gaps between rich and poor nations as this year's main UN global warming talks headed toward the finish line.

Hours before the 189-nation conference was to end, delegates haggled over issues like financing for projects to protect developing nations against effects of climate change such as rising seas.

Warsaw  - Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama drew thousands to a lecture in the capital on Thursday amid warnings from Beijing to respect China's interests.

The Dalai Lama's visit to Poland sparked protests from China when he earlier met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and prompted China to cancel two upcoming summits with the European Union.

Poznan, Poland - Any deal to cut emissions of gases blamed for global warming must include all countries or risk failure in the US Senate, a prominent US Democratic senator said Thursday.

Senator John Kerry's comments came during a UN climate conference. They injected a note of caution into the hopes pinned on president- elect Barack Obama, who has pledged to make the United States a leader in fighting climate change.

"The United States will assume its responsibilities - I am confident - for mandatory reductions," Kerry told reporters. "But we will not pass a treaty unless it is a global solution."

Poznan, Poland - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged rich and poor nations Thursday to agree on new steps to fight global warming, saying the United States and Europe must lead the way in avoiding a climate "catastrophe."

Addressing 189-nation talks on climate change, Ban said the global financial crisis was a chance to speed investment in clean technology.

He evoked the New Deal, a massive public works programme launched by US president Franklin D Roosevelt during the Great Depression.

Warsaw -­ Polish President Lech Kaczynski held a private meeting with the Dalai Lama Wednesday, the IAR news service reported.

The Dalai Lama has been in Poland since last week and has already held meetings with former president Lech Walesa. He is also scheduled to meet with the head of the Polish parliament. A week ago, the spiritual leader of Tibet met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, prompting protests from Beijing.

Warsaw - Prime Minister Donald Tusk launched talks Tuesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a European Union climate package which faces criticism from coal-reliant Poland.

Tusk and Merkel were also expected to discuss an upcoming EU summit in Brussels, and a Polish-Swedish proposal that calls for stronger EU ties with former Soviet bloc nations like Georgia.

Merkel's visit to Warsaw was to include talks on the financial crisis and Polish-German relations, Tusk's top aide told the Polish Press Agency.