Blair: Middle East must rein in Iran
Mr Blair called for 'alliance of moderation' against Iran
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Wednesday, 20, Dec 2006 01:43
Tony Blair has called on the Middle East to form an alliance against the "strategic challenge the government of Iran poses".
Speaking in Dubai, the prime minister said the situation in Iran was evident of a wider problem.
"There is a monumental struggle going on worldwide between those who believe in democracy and moderation, and forces of reaction and extremism," he said.
He also warned the world's nations: "We have to wake up. These forces of extremism, based on a warped and wrongheaded misinterpretation of Islam, aren't fighting a conventional war but they are fighting one, against us."
Iran's government, headed by president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was seen by Mr Blair to have, "elements.openly supporting terrorism in Iraq to stop a fledgling democratic process".
Mr Blair said of the solution to the problem posed by Iran: "We must therefore mobilise our alliance of moderation in the region and outside of it to defeat the extremists."
The speech wraps up the prime minister's five day tour of the Middle East which was hoped to push for peace in the region before Mr Blair leaves office next year. During the tour, Mr Blair visited Egypt, Turkey and the Palestinian territories alongside his visit to British troops stationed in Basra, Iraq.