COPENHAGEN - U.S. President Barack Obama reached a climate agreement on Friday with leaders from India, South Africa and China that will be a historic step forward in combating global warming, a U.S. official said.

No country is entirely satisfied with each element but this is a meaningful and historic step forward and a foundation from which to make further progress, the official said.

It's not sufficient to combat the threat of climate change but it's an important first step.

The backing of leading emitter China and other fast developing economies was crucial to any deal.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; editing by Janet McBride)

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