As the countdown to the Fifth Summit of the Americas-one of the biggest events to ever be hosted by Trinidad and Tobago-nears its end, some 440 international and 318 local media personnel have already been accredited for the mega-meeting.

According to summit officials, the figure does not include the White House Press Corps-the group of journalists or correspondents usually stationed at the White House to cover White House news briefings and news releases.

The group-which usually travels with the US President on Air Force One-is expected to register upon arrival in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Chinese Xinhua News Agency has one of the biggest media groups coming to the country, with a total of 21 people.

Univision Network-a Spanish-language television network in the United States and Puerto Rico-follows with a group of 20.

A group of 14 people from Agence France-Presse (AFP)-one of the oldest news agency in the world and one of the largest French news agencies-is expected. The Associated Press (AP) and the Thomson Reuters news agency will also have large groups, summit officials said.

Other international media houses expected include the Arabic news channel Al Jazeera, BBC Brazil, BBC Caribbean Service, BBC News and BBC World and CNN and CNN Chile.

Summit sources said the National Secretariat is still receiving requests for accreditation from both the international and local media.

Registration was initially supposed to close on March 25, but the date was extended to March 31.

For those who missed the deadline, late registration will take place from April 13 at the old fire station building on the corner of Abercromby and Hart Streets in Port of Spain.