CHOGM opens in Western Australia's Perth

The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) started on Friday in Perth in Western Australia. More than 50 Commonwealth leaders were introduced in turn on Friday, ending with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the Queen, the Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported. They were greeted by local Aboriginal people through a traditional Aboriginal welcome. Earlier, leaders were welcomed to the Perth Convention and Exhibition Center with a traditional indigenous cleansing ceremony. Security has been tightened in central Perth ahead of the CHOGM opening ceremony. The commonwealth leaders will hold talks on human rights, Commonwealth reform, economic turmoil, climate change and other topics during the three-day meeting in Perth.