Leaders trade blows over economy

The last growth figures to be published before the general election emphasised the fragility of Britain's recovery and led to party leaders trading accusations over their economic plans on Friday.
Figures showed that gross domestic product increased by 0.2 percent in the first three months of this year, a lower rate than had been expected.
The day after the three party leaders clashed in their second TV debate ahead of the May 6 election, Gordon Brown welcomed the figures as proof that "recovery is definitely under way".
Polls showing that a three-way election race was now a reality, the leader of the main opposition Conservatives, David Cameron, warned that the figures meant Britain could not afford the uncertainty of a hung parliament.