Commonwealth summit closes in Australia

PERTH: A Commonwealth summit bringing together world leaders from the 54-nation bloc closed Sunday agreeing on the urgent need to reform the grouping but without consensus on human rights.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard hosted the three-day gathering in the western city of Perth which was opened Friday by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in a lavish ceremony.

Leaders including Britain's David Cameron, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and South Africa's Jacob Zuma attended the meeting which looked at reforming the Commonwealth to make it more relevant.

In closing, Gillard thanked the leaders for their condolences over the loss of three Australian soldiers in a shooting in Afghanistan on Saturday.

"We over the last few days have shared some moments of joy like the opening ceremony, we also shared together some moments of sorrow too," she said at the close of the final session.