PLAID Cymru leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones last night pledged to fight the "inequality" which exists in Wales if his party win seats at the general election.

Speaking as a guest of the Pill Asian community at the Millennium Centre last night, Mr Wyn Jones said: "There are massive inequalities in Wales in terms of employment opportunities, health services and education.

"In economic terms we would like to see the wealth of the country spread more freely throughout the United Kingdom."

Mr Wyn Jones, who said he supported Newport Rugby Club as a youngster, told the meeting that Plaid Cymru was a party for the whole of Wales, not just its Welsh speaking strongholds.

Mr Wyn Jones also pledged to make the party stand for all the communities of Wales, and said all political parties have a "black mark" against them for not fielding candidates from ethnic communities in safe seats in Wales.

When asked about how Plaid stood on the issue of asylum, Newport West candidate, Tony Salkeld said: "We disagree with the current Labour system, and are against putting people in prisons."

He was joined by Newport East candidate Madoc Batcup, who blamed Labour "incompetence" for the backlog of asylum seekers to be processed.

On the subject of joining the Euro, Mr Wyn Jones said: "When the referendum comes, we will be in favour of the Euro on the condition that the economics are right."

Mr Wyn Jones said: "We want to make Plaid Cymru relevant for all the people of Wales, and relevant for those in Newport."

Also at the meeting in Pill was Plaid's newest recruit, Duffryn councillor Garry Brown.Councillor Brown pledged at the meeting to help promote the ethnic communities of Newport, and attacked the "undemocratic" Labour- run council over their recent appointment of a political lobbyist.

Councillor Brown quoted a copy of yesterday's Argus story, where Conservative councillors had expressed concerns about the manner in which such decisions were taken.He claimed: "This is the undemocratic nature of Newport borough council."