Blair's Middle East trip gathers momentum
Tuesday, 04 Sep 2007 10:48
Tony Blair is on his second trip to the region
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Tony Blair has met the Egyptian president as the former prime minister's second trip as Middle East peace envoy gathers pace.
Mr Blair has spent time in Saudi Arabia already this week as he seeks to find a way of breaking the deadlock in the region.
And he is set to travel to Israel later today – the second time he will meet Israeli officials since he was appointed a special envoy by the Quartet of Middle East mediators.
He will meet Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, before holding talks with Fatah officials in the West Bank.
According to Egypt's Mena news agency, Mr Blair met Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in Alexandria today to discuss the peace process.
Egypt is seen as a key force in the Middle East and is likely to be involved as a mediator in any attempts to secure a lasting peace between Israelis and Arabs.
Mr Blair was appointed to his new role by the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the US after he stood down from Downing Street in June.
After assuming the role officially earlier this summer, the former Labour leader said the Middle East was an issue he had been "passionate about for many years".
Mr Blair has previously talked of the importance of working towards a two-state solution in the region and to rebuild the Palestinian infrastructure taken apart by fighting between political factions.