Michael Bloomberg and Bill Gates launch anti-tobacco legal fund

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Michael Bloomberg and Bill Gates are launching a fund to help low- and middle-income countries fight often long and expensive legal battles with the tobacco industry.

The newly created Anti-Tobacco Trade Litigation Fund was announced today at the World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

It's backed by $4 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The fund complements the $600 million that Bloomberg Philanthropies has committed to combat tobacco use since 2007. It has helped countries implement policies such as increasing taxes, creating smoke-free public places and banning advertising.

According to the World Health Organization, tobacco use kills more than 5 million people annually and nearly 80 percent of the world's 1 billion smokers live in low- and middle-income countries.