LIMA - APEC'S 21 leaders wrapping up their annual summit kept up tradition on Sunday by donning traditional garb from the host country - in this case, shapeless brown ponchos given to them by officials in Lima, Peru.

Many of the world's heavyweight political chiefs, among them US President George W. Bush, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, posed for an official group photo with their heads poking through the garment.

Some of the leaders' smiles looked a little forced as they waved in unison, their ponchos made from the wool of Peru's llama-like alpacas covering dark Western suits and expensive silk ties.

A few, including Mr Medvedev, had to be convinced to keep the brown-and-black trimmed cloaks on as they filed behind their host, Peruvian President Alan Garcia, for the summit closing speech.

For the horde of media photographers and cameramen capturing the moment, it smacked of revenge.

For much of the summit, journalists covering summit events had been required to wear coloured bibs to make it easier for security personnel to distinguish them from the thousands of official delegates.

Ponchos are a common form of traditional dress throughout South America, especially in Andean regions.

For Asia-Pacific leaders thinking the item of clothing reduced their dignity, they might count themselves lucky they weren't given another traditional piece of Peruvian apparel: the chullo, a woollen bonnet that has two long floppy side pieces meant to protect the ears from the cold.

The custom of Apec leaders wearing some traditional attire from the host country dates back to 1993, when US president Bill Clinton instigated the practice in Seattle in response to a bout of unseasonably cold weather.

Since then, leaders have been seen in Australian long riding coats (2007), colourful Vietnamese ao dai tunics (2006), South Korean silk overcoats (2005), Chilean poncho-style chamantos (2004), and Thai silk high-collared shirts (2003). -- AFP