Deal to name Blair as Middle East envoy delayed

Western powers struggled yesterday to finalise a role for outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair as Middle East envoy in their bid to revive peace prospects after Islamist Hamas's takeover of the Gaza Strip.

A statement from the so-called Quartet mediators - the US, the EU, Russia and the UN - was delayed until at least today by Russian foot-dragging, diplomats said.

"Stay tuned," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters with a smile as she flew home after a 48-hour trip to Paris, when asked if Mr Blair was about to be named Quartet envoy.

"I certainly hope that this role is going to be filled because I think it is very important," Ms Rice said.

The EU's Middle East envoy, Marc Otte, told reporters after the group met in Jerusalem that Blair was the only candidate under consideration for the post but that the Quartet was awaiting final approval from Russia.

"The deal is not done," Mr Otte said. The Russian envoy had to consult with his superiors, he added.

In London, a spokesman for Mr Blair's Downing Street office said: "It is by no means a done deal yet." Mr Blair steps down as prime minister today.

Relations between London and Moscow have been sour over Britain's probe of a murder in London of a former Soviet agent, but diplomats said further talks may allow a deal to go through.

The US and Israel want to isolate Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which the Islamists seized by force two weeks ago. But the West wants to bolster the emergency government that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas formed in the occupied West Bank after he sacked a Hamas-led cabinet, and jump-start peace talks with him.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticised what he called the "divide and conquer" policy that has resulted in a split with Hamas in control of Gaza and Mr Abbas's secular Fatah movement in control of the West Bank.

"A divided Palestine is a problem for Israel and the region," Mr Lavrov said in Tel Aviv.

At issue at the meeting in Jerusalem was how sweeping a mandate to grant Blair, diplomats said.

The previous envoy focused mainly on economic issues rather than day-to-day negotiations aimed at reviving talks on Palestinian statehood.

Ms Rice said the Quartet envisaged Mr Blair focussing on building the institutions for a Palestinian state.

Mr Otte said that "if there is going to be a Palestinian state it is very important to build the capacity of the institutions for this state to be a viable one." Mr Blair's mandate could be expanded later, Mr Otte said.

Mr Blair gave his clearest indication yet that he wants the job, saying in London that he was ready, in principle, to try to help bring an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"I think anybody who cares about greater peace and stability in the world knows that a lasting and enduring resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian issue is essential and, as I have said on many occasions, I would do whatever I could to help such a resolution come about," Blair told reporters.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Mr Blair in a telephone conversation he would support him "fully" if he were named the Quartet envoy, a statement from Olmert's office said.

Mr Abbas also supports Mr Blair's appointment, aides said. But some Quartet diplomats have raised questions about Mr Blair's ability to garner broad Palestinian and Arab public support because of his leading role in the Iraq war and his close relationship with US President George W. Bush. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhmoum said Mr Blair was not welcome in the envoy post because he supported "the Zionist occupation's terrorism and massacres against our people".